David Hearn, who was made chairman and CEO of Bates' global operations in March, will take over Whitehead's responsibilities.
Whitehead had quit the board of Cordiant Communications, Bates' parent company, in March this year, following the appointment of Hearn to the board, made effective on April 29. Hyundai was a long-standing global client, and its loss was a body blow to Bates, already hit by the loss of the $300m media account last year.
Cordiant chairman and CEO Michael Bungey brought Hearn on board from the Australian food company Goodman Fielder to target US multinationals and inject some strength into the agency's senior management. Bungey stepped down as Bates' worldwide chief executive to concentrate on Cordiant and appointed Whitehead as worldwide chief operating officer in September 2000.
Cordiant's future has looked shaky for some time now, with its share price fluctuating wildly as rumours of a takeover by rival advertising holding companies, such as Havas Advertising, regularly do the rounds. Its shares were trading at 101.5p in London this morning, up 1% on yesterday's closing price.
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