Ogilvy & Mather is strengthening its planning department with the
return of Beth Barry as executive planning director.
Barry moves across from the Ogilvy network’s European division. She
became head of planning for Europe, Africa and the Middle East in 1997,
when Mike Walsh was made chief executive of the regions. Before that she
was executive planning director.
The day-to-day running of the planning department will continue to be
handled by the agency’s head of planning, Janet Grimes.
Barry said: ’I think I’ve done the corporate bit now. I want to work
with Paul Simons, I like what he’s doing.’
She will take responsibility for the agency’s planning and strategy,
with a brief to encourage strategic thinking across all disciplines of
the agency and the wider Ogilvy Group. She will also head the ’Discovery
Unit’ - the project-by-project planning arm of the main agency.
Barry will join the agency’s executive board, working closely with
Simons, the group’s UK chairman and chief executive, and with its
creative director - who has yet to be hired.
Simons said: ’Beth is living proof that advertising’s rightful place is
in the boardroom. She has an unrivalled ability to grapple with
strategic problems and present breakthrough solutions at the very
highest client levels. Her leadership in this area will considerably
raise our game.’
