David Abbott is relinquishing creative control of Abbott Mead
Vickers BBDO with immediate effect.
Abbott, who is stepping down in favour of his deputy, Peter Souter, has
spent three decades as a creative director.
He will confine himself to copywriting, but he remains agency chairman
and will work full time at least until his 60th birthday in October next
year.
For Souter, 35, the promotion culminates a 20-month apprenticeship,
during which time Abbott has been grooming him for the job.
It also marks a further move by the founders of AMV, celebrating its
20th birthday this year, to set the next generation of senior staff in
place.
Souter has had responsibility for all creative hirings and recently took
full charge of the agency’s 16 teams while Abbott was on a
sabbatical.
Abbott said: ’It’s been a gradual transition but everyone is now used to
the idea and the time is right for Peter to take centre stage. I’ll
still be there to help him but I don’t intend to get in his way.’
Abbott will continue to work with clients such as BT, Volvo, Sainsbury’s
and the Economist, with which he has had long-term creative involvement,
and will still front new-business pitches when necessary.
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