Angotti Shuffles Top Tier

Co-Founder Hedge Eyes ‘Broader’ IPG Role
NEW YORK–Angotti, Thomas, Hedge has promoted its top officers in an effort to retain key talent, just weeks after the departure of executive creative director, Rochelle Klein.
Co-presidents Barrie Hedge and Tony Angotti were named co-chairmen. Managing director Howard Sherman was promoted to president and operations director Terrie Paladino was named chief operating officer. Angotti, who is chief creative officer, assumes the duties of Klein, who moved to the top creative post at Tierney & Partners in Philadelphia.
On Friday, a week after the promotions were announced internally, Hedge confirmed he has talked to parent Interpublic Group about assuming a post at that company.
“When the time is right, we have an agreement that I’ll take a chunk of time before I take a broader role in the organization,” said Hedge, 51.
He declined to elaborate or say when he’d leave the New York agency. Sources said the move could happen early next year.
The personnel shifts come in the wake of a major account loss and questions about the future of the 13-year-old shop. Last month, Hardee’s moved the creative portion of its $55 million ad account to The Leap Partnership in Chicago, just eight months after hiring Angotti [Adweek, Oct. 19].
As a result, billings dipped below the $100 million mark. Sources have been wondering whether the shop could be absorbed by another IPG shop.
Asked about such speculation, IPG chief executive Phil Geier said, “So far, it looks like [the agency] is going to stay.” While acknowledging the loss of Hardee’s, Geier said Angotti was still in the black and was “doing all right.”
Angotti’s key clients include Fuji Film, Fosters and RCN. It is currently pitching three accounts worth a total $55 million in billings, including DLJ Direct and Guardian Life Insurance Co.