Leo Burnett Adds to Staff To Boost Client Service: James Jenness Moved to New Position as Part Of New Plan; Hank Feeley Retires By Jim Kir

CHICAGO - Leo Burnett Co. is adding to the upper ranks of its staff on bot

James Jenness, most recently an executive vp/worldwide client service director for the Kellogg account, was named vice chairman and director of multinational accounts for Leo Burnett Co. and Leo Burnett Worldwide, a new position. He will retain his Kellogg responsibilies while adding other multinational clients as well, the agency said last week.
Meanwhile, 27-year Burnett veteran Hank Feeley, vice chairman, corporate director of client services announced his retirement late Friday. A spokesperson said the move was unrelated to the changes.
But more than one source close to the situation said that Burnett may make some other changes in upper management in the coming weeks. The agency will likely add to its domestic client service management team as well, affecting some of the duties now carried by Leo Burnett U.S.A. chairman Jim Oates. Oates, who is still the main client contact on Oldsmobile and had held on to his client service responsibilities after being moved up to his new position last year, will now have that client service responsibility taken over by an unnamed executive vp at the agency by the end of the month. Another executive will take an undisclosed director of marketing position on the domestic side as well. The moves are intended to free up Oates to concentrate on more pressing issues with running Leo Burnett U.S.A.
Burnett officials would not comment on any forthcoming moves. Sources say a top management meeting is slated for Tuesday.
Adding Jenness’ position to the corporate management team at Burnett is another sign that Burnett is aiming to build a consistent bridge between its domestic and its growing international business. The position, according to agency president Bill Lynch, was the result of meetings of the agency’s newly created vision task force.
‘There are six or so big clients that continue to grow in their worldwide importance to us,’ Lynch said. ‘There is a need for structure and budgeting and of sharing the knowledge of those clients internally. There is a lot of information a lot of planning we can bring to the agency instead of reinventing the wheel each time out.’
Copyright Adweek L.P. (1993)