NTL poised to hand senior position to JWT chief Carter

Stephen Carter, chief executive of J Walter Thompson, is understood to be leaving the agency, and has been tipped to take a top post at cable TV and telecoms operator NTL – one of JWT’s biggest clients.

Carter, who previously held talks with ITV about the post of chief executive of Network Centre, was unavailable for comment this week.

But sources suggest NTL has offered him a job, though the company has yet to decide which role he will take, or whether to create one for him. NTL refuses to comment.

NTL appointed J Walter Thompson to its account in March 1999, and at the time, Carter said: “Opportunities like this come along once in a lifetime.” Since then, the company has acquired the residential business of Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), and is expected to make a bid for the last major player, Telewest.

The group is headed by chief executive Barclay Knapp. Its chief operating officer in the UK is Leigh Woods.

Last month, it named cable veteran Bruno J Claude as chief operating officer for continental Europe. It is unclear where Carter would fit into the NTL hierarchy.

Carter has irked senior J Walter Thompson executives through his refusal to make a commitment to the agency, or to clarify his plans.