O&M hires Saatchis’ McCann to run Unilever in Europe

Ogilvy & Mather has hired Chris McCann to run its Unilever account

in Europe.

McCann, who moves from Saatchi & Saatchi where he was a regional

director, will take on the newly created role of business director, a

board-level appointment, in January.

McCann will report to Ged Parton, the agency’s managing partner for

Unilever.

Paul Simons, chairman of the Ogilvy Group, said that as Parton travels

extensively, a second senior executive on the business was necessary and

because so much business is now done on a pan-European basis, an account

head for the entire region was required.

’Ogilvy London has invested considerable resource in developing its

relationship with Unilever,’ Parton said. ’Indeed, we have been growing

with them steadily over the last two years. Chris is a further tangible

expression of our desire to invest in that relationship and, in

particular, the creativity we deliver in our total offering.’

McCann has been with Saatchis since 1985 and has worked on accounts

including Allied-Lyons, Club 18-30, PowerGen and Midland Bank. Before

joining Saatchis, he was at DDB London for three years.

Over the past two years O&M has won a number of Unilever brands

including Physio Sport, Ragu and Five Brothers, and has also picked up

the interactive business of the Unilever division, Van den Bergh.

Paul Simons, chairman of the Ogilvy Group, said the nature of Parton’s

job means he is required to travel extensively, necessitating a second

senior executive on the business. He added that because so much business

is now done on a pan-European basis, an account head for the entire

region is a fitting appointment.

’Ogilvy London has invested considerable resource in developing its

relationship with Unilever,’ Parton said. ’Indeed, we have been growing

with them steadily over the last two years. Chris is a further tangible

expression of our desire to invest in that relationship and in

particular the creativity we deliver in our total offering.’

McCann, has been with Saatchi since 1985 and has worked on accounts

including Allied-Lyons, Club 18-30, PowerGen and Midland Bank. Prior to

Saatchi, he was at DDB London for three years.

Over the past two years O&M has won Unilever brands including Physio

Sport, Ragu and Five Brothers and has also picked up the interactive

business of the Unilever division, Van den Bergh.