LH-S hires chief for media launch

Lowe Howard-Spink has promoted Robbie McIntosh, its deputy media director, to media director of its media subsidiary Western International Media, which launched this week.

Western will be situated in LH-S’ building in Knightsbridge but will have separate offices. Its launch has been under discussion in the UK for a year (MW March 29 1996).

McIntosh will report to Mike Smallwood, former media director of LH-S and new chief executive of Western. Smallwood has also promoted Peter Magnani, a group head, to joint deputy media director with Gary Birtles, existing deputy.

Broadcast director for the new operation will be Colm Feeny, a TV manager at LH-S. He replaces Keith Impey, who left to run his own business last year. Head of radio Mike Hope-Milne and research director Ivor Hussein will keep their old titles.

McIntosh joined LH-S a year ago from Grey Entertainment Media, where he was board director and general manager. He will continue to head the media accounts for Tesco, Weetabix and Carlton and will oversee Western’s media planning.

Western is a joint venture between Interpublic agencies Western Media in the US and Initiative Media in Europe. The US company will use Western to provide its US clients with a European network, while Initiative will use it as a second network in which to place clients that clash with existing business.

The board of Western will include Smallwood; Marie-José Forissier, worldwide chairman of Initiative Media; and Michael Kassan, president of Western International.