Leo Burnett Co. named William T. ”Bill” Lynch president and John C.
”Jack” Kraft chief operating officer in a revamp tightening its global management and addressing needs of multinational clients.
Lynch, 49, who had been chairman-chief executive officer of Leo Burnett USA, becomes president of the Chicago-based parent and its international operation known as Leo Burnett Worldwide.
Kraft, 50, continues as vice chairman of the parent, adding that title for Burnett Worldwide, while also being named chief operating officer of both units.
Burnett had 1991 worldwide billing of $3.89 billion, including $1.85 billion outside this country, or 47 percent of the total. While domestic billing was flat, international was up 19 percent.
As chief operating officer, Kraft would appear theoretically to be second in command, but Richard B. ”Rick” Fizdale, Burnett`s recently named chairman and chief executive officer, said this wasn`t the case.
”We`ll be partners, a team,” said Fizdale, 52, who had been president of the parent and the agency`s chief creative officer-the latter a post he still holds-until being tapped as CEO. In this post, Fizdale is calling the shots, acknowledging that if this new Burnett triumvirate can`t agree on an issue, he will make the decision.
Kraft, whose background is in finance and administration, will oversee global business operations, while Lynch will function as the agency`s chief client service officer. As president, Lynch fills a position that had been vacant since Fizdale assumed his new posts Jan. 1.
Said Fizdale: ”As our clients increasingly seek to build more world brands and launch more multicountry advertising, we feel this structure will continue to provide more senior level contact for our clients around the world.”
Other appointments, involving Chicago-based executives include:
– James G. ”Jim” Oates, 48, to chairman of Burnett USA and Theodore A.
”Ted” Bell, 45, to president-chief creative officer of the same unit. Robert D. ”Rob” Nolan, 47, to vice chairman-director of creative services at Burnett USA. With Lynch`s elevation, there will not be a CEO of Burnett USA.
– John J. ”Jack” Smith, 53, to vice chairman and deputy chief creative officer of Leo Burnett Co. and Burnett Worldwide.
First `houses` an agency
First National Bank of Chicago, which in late 1989 moved its ad account to Tatham/RSCG after a 52-year relationship with Foote, Cone & Belding Chicago, once again has a new advertising resource, headed by former FCB staffers who worked on the client there. In recent weeks, First National has moved its estimated $3 million account to LaRowe & Armstrong, an agency now
”housed” within the bank but scheduled to move shortly to new quarters in One First National Plaza. Principals are Randall W. ”Randy” LaRowe, recently a VP-creative director with FCB, and Manley Armstrong, a former FCB art director. This won`t be a ”house” agency for First National. LaRowe says the firm will seek other clients once it`s better established. Tatham remains an agency of record (although there is no current billing by the bank), said John Tomick, VP and head of the marketing services division at First National. ”It wasn`t a performance issue” on the part of Tatham that dictated the change, he said. Behind the switch: logistics (First National now has 70 units with a need for more localized marketing and advertising) and efficiencies. The bank is doing its print media buying in-house. Lambrick & Associates, an Orland Park-based media-consulting firm headed by Paula Lambrick, has been retained for broadcast-media buying.
– Metra narrowed a review of its $2.5 million marketing-advertising-promoti on account to four agencies: Bender Browning Dolby Sanderson, which has held the major portion of the client`s business; Lois USA, Jack Levy Associates and Della Femina McNamee, all Chicago.
On the move: Peter Curran and Mary Beth Sackett promoted to account supervisors at Bayer Bess Vanderwarker. . . . Brian Goldner, an account supervisor at J. Walter Thompson USA Chicago, elected a VP.
Strictly Personal: Birthday greetings to Bob Beavers, Corinne Kirby and Ed Lanctot.
– Nabisco this week hits markets in the Northeast with its first fat-free cookies, Fat Free Fig Newtons and Fat Free Apple Newtons. Distribution is scheduled in late May for the Midwest and the balance of the country. Previously, Nabisco brought out a fat-free Premium saltine cracker. Fat Free Premium now accounts for 11 percent of the brand`s overall sales. The new fat- free Newtons, slightly bigger than the regular line, also have a few more calories (70 versus 60).
Focus Media, the Studio City, Calif.-based media-buying service, will be transferring an undetermined number of staffers while also hiring locally for a still-to-be opened Chicago office to service client Sears Merchandise Group. As previously reported, Focus Media has been assigned broadcast media planning and buying for Sears` spot TV and radio, TV syndication and cable TV, responsibilities formerly with Ogilvy & Mather, the client`s principal agency.
