Tim Jones declines DMB&B media post to remain at Zenith

Zenith Media has lured back its former head of client servicing,

Tim Jones, as he was set to take up the international media director

post he was offered by MediaVest earlier this year.

Jones now takes on the expanded role of managing director of Zenith’s

international division and worldwide client services director.

Jones’s appointment at MediaVest, the DMB&B group’s media arm, was

resisted by Zenith when he tendered his resignation in the early

summer.

MediaVest wanted him on board as soon as possible to replace Judy

Thomas, the international media director who retired in June. However,

Zenith sparked threats of legal action by forcing Jones to serve a long

notice period.

Now Zenith has turned the tables by persuading Jones to stay. Kevin

Malloy, the New York-based MediaVest executive who hired Jones,

confirmed that he had agreed in writing to join the agency. MediaVest is

now considering where it stands legally on the issue.

John Perriss, the chief executive of Zenith Media Worldwide, confirmed

that Jones would now be staying with Zenith. Perriss said that Jones had

continued working on clients’ business throughout his notice period. He

claimed that the recent clarification of Zenith’s growth strategy after

the demerger of its parent company, Cordiant, had helped persuade Jones

to stay.