CIA bags £15m brief as UK md quits

CIA Medianetwork’s managing director Alan Brydon is quitting the agency just as it has picked up the &£15m media buying business for Internet recruitment site jobs.co.uk.

Brydon leaves the company at the end of the month with no job to go to. He will not be replaced.

Brydon’s future at the Tempus-owned CIA was put into question following the appointment of David Wheldon as chief executive last September. Wheldon was previously global advertising director for Coca-Cola, before becoming chief marketing officer for Europe.

During his three years at CIA, Brydon has been dogged by problems. In 1998 the company suffered a string of losses in the UK including BT’s &£120m TV buying account, the &£18m Somerfield-Kwik Save task and Lloyds TSB’s &£30m business. These losses resulted in more than 25 redundancies at the company.

Commenting on his departure, Brydon said: “Obviously I am disappointed, but I can see the rationale behind David’s [Wheldon] decision.” Brydon adds that he is leaving his options open about his next job.

The recruitment site, jobs.co.uk is to launch in the UK later this year.