Foote Cone Belding is putting its new-business effort in the hands of an
executive who has no experience of agencies and has never worked in the
UK.
David Roche, 27, a former jazz musician, has been appointed business
development manager only three months after coming to the UK and having
spent almost his entire working life in his native Ireland.
His brief, when he joins in January, will be to help the agency gain
entry to more pitch-lists as well as helping to win extra assignments
from existing clients.
‘It’s true, I’ve no agency experience which means I’ve no contacts,’
Roche admitted. ‘But I can look at the business with a fresh pair of
eyes, even if I have to make up the rules as I go along. It will
certainly encourage me to take a very experimental view of new
business.’
He added: ‘I come from a small company which had no heritage but was
successful. I’m joining one with a great heritage and a rising
reputation.’
Roche, who had talks with several other UK shops, including M&C Saatchi,
before signing for FCB, will report to Chris Rendel, the agency’s
managing director, and its chairman, Robert Hamer.
Rendel said: ‘David may have an unconventional background, but he has a
philosophy which entirely complements our own.’
Roche set up his own music-related business three years ago while
reading for a maths and English degree at Trinity College, Dublin. He
later moved into corporate events and marketing and won an assignment to
handle a below-the-line campaign for Guinness in Ireland.
‘FCB seems to have taken the lead in throwing out the over-cautiousness
many agencies seem to have when it comes to hiring an outsider,’ he
said.
