CIA Group is hit again as Media Solutions chief joins the exodus

The CIA Group of media buying companies has been hit by its fourth high-level departure in less than a month.

Julian Neuburger, chief executive of CIA joint venture Media Solutions, is leaving the company to join

J Walter Thompson Brazil as media vice-president.

Media Solutions is a joint venture between CIA and GGT. Neuburger will be replaced by Media Solutions board director Peter Williamson.

His move follows the departure of CIA Media Solutions’ three senior managers in Manchester. Managing director Paul Wheeler and deputies Declan McKenna and Andy Bartholomew left to set up media independent BMW two weeks ago.

In April, CIA Group lost two senior staff members to Ammirati Puris Lintas. First CIA Medianetwork planning director Graeme Hutton left to become European media director. Two weeks later, CIA joint venture 20/20 Media lost its managing director Paul Woolmington to become APL’s worldwide media director.

“These things happen,” says a CIA source. “It’s just bad luck that they have happened all at the same time.”

Chris Ingram, chairman of CIA Group, was unavailable for comment at press time.

Neuburger, who has been with GGT and Media Solutions for 15 years, says working overseas has been a long-held ambition. He will report to David Byles, JWT’s executive media director for Latin America and former media director of JWT London.