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Norman is currently chief executive of Outrider, the interactive arm of Mediaedge:cia. In his new role, he will be responsible for Mediaedge:cia London and Manchester, BJK&E, Mediahead, Purely Media, Outrider, Conzept and Total Sponsorship.

McAnena has led the UK operations of Mediaedge:cia in the UK since December 2001, when the two agencies, The Media Edge and CIA, merged after WPP bought Tempus. Prior to her taking on the top job, the chairman and CEO roles were combined.

Mediaedge:cia had a disappointing year in 2002, the first full year of its existence, with clients including Wrigley's, Gap and AG Barr reviewing their business out of the agency.

It was reappointed to DHL along with Carat. Mediaedge:cia picked up the business in the US, Latin America, Central Europe Middle East and Africa, and Asia-Pacific, with Carat handling Western Europe.

Norman has been with Mediaedge:cia for 17 years, joining CIA as a media assistant in 1986 and becoming the head of its internet operations CIA Interactive. He left the company in 1996 to work in sports television marketing, but rejoined what was Tempus in 1998 to form Outrider, the company's digital media offering. He will continue to head Outrider and the company's worldwide new business drive.

Kantar is WPP's insight and consultancy division, including the brands Added Value, Millward Brown and The Henley Centre, and had revenues of around £800m last year. McAnena was UK and European CEO of Added Value before taking up her role at Mediaedge:cia.

Mainardo de Nardis, worldwide CEO of Mediaedge:cia, said: "I have total confidence in Rob refocusing our efforts to deliver our ambition for growth across the Mediaedge:cia UK group of companies. He is a natural choice for this job.

"In the last 18 months, Rob has played a pivotal role in developing our company's vision for the future after the merger between The Media Edge and CIA and he is one of the key architects of our new operating system: Navigator."

The company has also named Mandy Pooler, CEO of WPP's The Channel, to join the board of directors for the group.

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