GGT Direct hires md as duo decide to quit

GGT Direct, rocked by the defections of its top management to start-up Lowe Direct, has appointed top executive Mike Cornwell from Ogilvy & Mather Direct as its new managing director.

As Cornwell joins so GGT Direct’s head of account management Sue Gull and head of client services Tess Doughty confirmed they are leaving the agency.

The pair had agreed to stay and await developments after originally deciding to leave with joint creative director of the agency Steve Broadhurst who left last month (MW March 29).

These latest changes come three months after GGT Direct was hit by the defection of four top directors – chief executive Tony Watson, managing director Nick Young, data planning director Ian Taylor and creative director Steve Walpole – to form below-the-line start-up Lowe Direct which launched yesterday (Tuesday).

Soon after these departures, GGT Direct also lost board director Phil Cragg to TBWA Direct.

Cornwell was previously client services director at O&M Direct before being promoted to managing director in July last year. He will report to GGT Direct chairman Peter Herd.

Cornwell will be replaced at O&M Direct by deputy managing director Richard Bainbridge, who previously worked at Leo Burnett.

GGT Direct, which is the UK’s fifth largest direct marketing agency, works for RAC, Vauxhall and Cellnet.