Behind Gianinno's Exit, Departure Likely To Lead To Outside Search For CEO

NEW YORK
At 1 p.m. last Thursday, Susan Gianinno, chief executive of J. Walter Thompson here, was summoned to Chris Jones’ office for what she was told was a budget meeting. The conversation between her and Jones, chief executive of JWT Worldwide, led to Gianinno’s abrupt exit shortly afterward, sources said.
Following that meeting, Jones and JWT president of the Americas Peter Schweitzer briefed senior executives, explaining that the situation at the flagship office had become untenable and that a change needed to be made immediately.
In a statement, Jones said Gianinno’s departure from the agency was “by mutual consent.”