Tipsters Were Right: Beaven Out at Initiative, Hytner Takes Over

By Kiran Aditham 

After days of no replies from the Initiative camp and phone calls that went straight to an assistant, who said “he’s in a meeting” on Monday, Campaign confirms that Richard Beaven is out at the IPG agency after four years. According to the trade, Jim Hytner (looking quizzical to your left) who has been serving as president of Universal McCann’s G14 Group, will serve as global chief exec at Initiative, which is also moving its headquarters from New York to London. Here’s a doomsday tip that we received last Saturday, verbatim:

“richard beaven out at initative.  to be replaced by jim hytner.  anyone that is does not become a “yes man” to matt seiler is out at media brands.  Matt Freeman – gone, Richard Beaven – gone, Bant Breen – gone, George Pace – gone, next up ?”

Matt Seiler, in case you didn’t know, was named CEO of IPG’s Mediabrands a year ago. No word back on the “yes man” allegations, though.

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