Graeme Arkell, the former KHBB managing director, is joining TBWA next
week in the newly created role of deputy managing director.
Arkell will take on responsibility for the agency’s internal management,
leaving TBWA’s chief executive, Alasdair Ritchie, to concentrate on
European issues and the managing director, Jon-athan Hoare, to expand
the business outside the agency.
Hoare said: ‘We have grown significantly in the last two years. To get
geared up for the next climb, we need to broaden the base of our senior
management and have someone to run the internal motor of the agency
engine. We have to give it more attention if we want to achieve a
balance between size and entrepreneurial genius.’
He added: ‘Graeme was very close to pulling off and leading the KHBB
buyout. It’s a great vote of confidence for us that he has decided to
join. Graeme has worked with the giants and has a maturity and
understanding of the business.’
Arkell said: ‘I am going to help run the agency. Alasdair, Jo and the
creative director, Trevor Beattie, have done a fantastic job
revitalising TBWA. It would be madness not to be a part of it.’
Arkell joined GGT in 1989 as group operations director. Two years later,
he switched to Miller and Leeves WAHT as deputy managing director.
He started at KHBB in 1992, having been made redundant from Miller and
Leeves. He became KHBB’s joint managing director, alongside Hamish
Pringle, in September 1993.
Following the departure last year of Bruce Haines, KHBB’s chief
executive, to Leagas Delaney, Pringle was promoted to chairman and
Arkell became the sole managing director.
In March, Arkell, Pringle and KHBB’s creative director, Barbara Nokes,
planned a management buyout from KHBB’s parent company, Cordiant. But
the pressure of negotiations - particularly over the naming and proposed
shareholding of the company - put a strain on relationships and the
talks collapsed. Arkell and Nokes quit KHBB in July.
