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The reshuffle also sees the executive creative director, Mark Wnek, and the chief executive, Brett Gosper, becoming the joint chairmen. Gosper said: "We have had a three-strong senior team here for eight years, and the agency is simply much bigger now than it was then. We needed to add a fourth person, Adam, to the team."

Pinnington, whom Gosper admitted had been doing the job of a chief executive for the past few years, will concentrate on running the agency and bringing in new business.

Leigh was hired from Bates two years ago to deputise for Pinnington and to run key accounts such as Abbey National. Pinnington said: "After eight years with the same title, it's delightful to hand on the managing director's reins to someone who shares our energy, enthusiasm and level of obsession. I'm confident that, with Adam's help, we'll surpass last year's 20 per cent growth."

Gosper denied the move was a signal that he and Wnek would take a lesser role in the running of the agency, and said: "Mark will continue to oversee the agency's creative output. We are not gearing up for our departure. This is part of a well-thought-out process to reinforce the scale of the agency."

Euro RSCG was awarded the global Reckitt Benckiser account last month alongside J. Walter Thompson. The agency is seeking a senior account handler to oversee the global account from the London agency.