Sean Neall, a senior executive at J. Walter Thompson in Detroit, is to
join Ogilvy and Mather to run its pounds 250 million Ford business
across Europe.
Neall replaces David Miller, who was moved off the account two months
ago following a top-level reshuffle on Ford (Campaign, 8 November). Two
weeks ago, it also emerged that Miller had stepped down as chairman of
O&M Direct. His position at the agency remains unclear.
Neall, who will have the title of client services director, will be
based in London and will report directly to Kelly O’Dea, the O&M
president, worldwide client services.
O’Dea said: ‘Being part of the WPP group gives us access to a larger
pool of well-tested talent. We needed someone to help us gear up to the
next phase with Ford.’
At JWT Detroit, Neall was the executive management director for Ford
Domestic Operations. He had been with JWT for 12 years. Neall has
managed the Ford business in the US for JWT for five years.
For the past month, Miller’s position on Ford Europe has been filled by
Jack Reed, O&M’s regional director, worldwide client services, who heads
all of O&M non-Ford international business run out of London.
Neall takes over the Ford Europe account at a rocky time for the car
giant. Two months ago, Ford announced losses of pounds 302 million
across Europe, citing costs and competition as the causes.
However, advertising campaigns this year for models such as the Ka and
the Probe, have attempted to put creativity at the top of the agenda as
part of a bid to revitalise the Ford brand.
Newsmaker, p14
Feature, p38
