Media Centre global rebrand sparks executive shake-up

The Media Centre, the UK arm of the MacManus Group’s media operations, has announced more management changes following the group’s global media rebranding as MediaVest.

Adrian Birchall, the Media Centre’s chairman and chief executive, was appointed president of Media-Vest Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Jim Marshall, managing director, was made chief executive of the UK operation earlier this year.

Now former joint deputy managing directors Chris Locke and Robert Ray are promoted to joint managing directors, Nick Theakstone is promoted to head of broadcast from TV buying director and Nigel Foote, previously research director, becomes head of research and strategy with more staff.

Marshall says a commercial director will also be appointed. “We will be announcing the date of Media-Vest’s launch in the UK in the very near future,” he adds.

Meanwhile, the Media Centre has taken a minority stake in Première Consulting, a sponsorship consultancy. It is a sister operation to sponsorship rights business Première, which sells sponsorship for clubs including Blackburn Rovers Football Club, Coventry FC, and Sale Rugby Club.