LONDON (Brand Republic) – Advertising industry sources claim Sue Farr, the former marketing director at the BBC, is not experienced enough to take on the top job as chief executive at J Walter Thompson in London.
The agency has confirmed that Farr had been in talks with senior management and has made the shortlist for the job.
The two external favourites for the job are Nigel Long, chief executive at Partners BDDH, and Richard Hytner, chief executive at Publicis. The leading internal candidate is David Lamb, the global business director at JWT.
Brett Gosper, chief executive at Euro RSCG Wnek Gosper, is also thought to be on the long-list and Moray MacLennon, joint chief executive at M&C Saatchi, is said to have pulled out from discussions.
The role has been vacant since Stephen Carter left the agency to join cable TV and telecoms operator NTL in September, and speculation about who would take his place has been intense ever since.
However, some doubt Farr’s experience in advertising and claim she would not be suitable for the job. One source said it had been agreed early on that JWT, which counts Kellogg’s, Unilever and UDV among its clients, was looking for someone who was already chief executive of an ad agency.
Farr, who left the BBC following a management shakeup by new director-general Greg Dyke, has a career in marketing and advertising built up over 23 years. She worked at Mars, Heinz and WCRS before joining Thames TV as director of corporate affairs in 1990.
Marketing director Mark Robinson was also thought to be a possible contender, prior to his resignation earlier in November to take up the position as managing director of marketing services firm Miracle Media in late January.