Marcus Evans, the former chairman and chief executive of Bates
Communications, has joined the Carlson Marketing Group in the new post
of group development director.
The job ends a six-month period of unemployment for Evans, who is
thought to have been in talks with several direct marketing agencies and
networks since his resignation (Campaign, 21 May).
He left Bates Communications as the result of Bates UK’s acquisition of
Blue Skies, and the subsequent appointment of Graham Green as the
chairman of the newly merged outfit.
Evans will sit at the same level as Steve Cook and David Perkins, the
joint chief executives of Carlson Marketing Group UK, and the three of
them will report to Robert Janes, the president of CMG Europe.
His first task at Carlson will be to raise the profile of the group.
In the UK, this includes Smith Bundy Carlson, the direct marketing
agency, and the new sales promotion outfit, 11, alongside several other
marketing services companies.
’The clincher for me was the incredible resource Carlson has as a
group,’ Evans explained. ’It is a hidden gem and doesn’t get the credit
it deserves for the work it does.’
Carlson is looking to acquire several more agencies of various types
throughout the UK, Europe and Asia Pacific, and is thought to be close
to making key acquisitions in those markets. Evans will have some
involvement in this process.
’Carlson has acquired lots of business over the past 12 to 18 months and
they needed more senior resource. My job is to look at the existing
clients and see how I can develop their business further. Carlson has
unique resources - in fact, all the bits I wish I’d had before.’
