Jeffrey to Get Top Global Post at JWT

NEW YORK J. Walter Thompson worldwide chief executive Peter Schweitzer on Tuesday afternoon spelled out a succession plan to a select group of top managers, sources said.

At a meeting of 50 top executives gathered in New York this week, Schweitzer revealed that regional leaders Bob Jeffrey and Michael Maedel will be promoted to global leadership roles as Schweitzer prepares to step back from the day-to-day management of the $9 billion agency network, sources said.

Effective Jan. 1, Jeffrey, who joined JWT in 1998 as New York president and became North American president in 2001, will become worldwide CEO, and Maedel, president for the Europe, the Middle East and Africa, will become worldwide president, according to sources. Schweitzer, who now holds both titles, will remain on board as worldwide chairman, said sources.

WPP Group CEO Martin Sorrell is said to have blessed the moves. JWT did not return calls.

The moves leave open the question of who will run North America and the region of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. For the time being, Jeffrey and Maedel will continue to perform those duties, said sources.

Also is question is who will run the New York office. The New York-based Jeffrey did not fill the New York president’s post after becoming the North American chief and, in effect, performed both roles.