APL ousts its US chief in ‘irreconcilable’ rift
Ammirati Puris Lintas’s US chairman and chief executive Rick Hadala has parted company with the agency after just seven months due to “irreconcilable differences”.
A source at APL New York says Hadala, who joined in August, has been asked to leave the firm and that he resigned with no position to go to.
APL’s London-based account director James Allman, who handles the worldwide Unilever account, has been appointed as his replacement.
Hadala joined APL after four years with US broadcasting giant CBS following its merger with Westinghouse, where he worked. Before that, he was a partner with strategic consultancy McKinsey & Co.
APL chairman, chief executive and chief creative officer Martin Puris says: “Rick’s strategic consulting skills are formidable and his efforts to bring change to APL have been appreciated. But differences of opinion arose that were found to be irreconcilable.”
Allman will move to New York to take up his post. Terry Rosenquist, president of the multinational clients division, assumes Allman’s Unilever responsibilities.
One senior agency source says the move indicates APL is finding it hard to attract and hold on to top advertising talent. “It shows they can’t get the right calibre of people.”
Puris adds: “I’m certain that James and APL New York will flourish together.”
