Wright's appointment by the Interpublic Group-owned agency from his role as chief strategy officer at O&M was tipped by 北京赛车pk10 magazine at the beginning of August. It leaves Judge to continue as CEO of Interpublic's The Partnership division, but his long-term future at the company is uncertain.
Judge said he would work with Interpublic's CEO and president David Bell to ensure a smooth transition until the end of 2004.
Wright, whose start date has not been confirmed, will be joining an agency struggling to cope with a number of account losses, most notably the defection of HSBC's $600m (拢334m) global account to WPP Group earlier this year.
In the US, it took another big hit when it lost the estimated $400m Verizon Wireless account, and in the UK it has seen Unilever shift its Surf and Flora brands to Bartle Bogle Hegarty. Earlier this year, the agency also refused to repitch for the 拢40m global Braun account, saying it would not compromise its creative principles.
Interpublic is taking steps to reverse the agency's fortunes and has hired Fallon Worldwide's Mark Goldstein as global chief marketing officer to focus on winning new business.
Of Wright's appointment, Bell said: "We're convinced that we have found the right leader for Lowe now, which is why we've decided to accelerate management transition at the agency. Jerry respects that decision."
Wright, aged 43, began his career as an account planner at the London agency Hedger Mitchell Stark. Before joining the WPP-owned O&M, he was also a partner in the New York creative agency Berlin Wright Cameron, now part of WPP's Red Cell network.
Between 1986 and 1992, he was a planner at Chiat Day in Los Angeles, where he played a key role on the Energizer Bunny campaign.
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