Golin/Harris picks Sue Farr to head European operations

Sue Farr, the former BBC marketing chief who left the corporation after Greg Dyke became director-general, has been hired by public relations group Golin/Harris to run its European operations.

Farr becomes managing director for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Golin/Harris, the Interpublic Group-owned PR agency which claims to be the world’s fifth largest and has recently acquired Paragon and Ludgate in London.

Farr says: “We have a two pronged strategy, to pursue organic growth and acquisitions. I have got a strong mandate and significant resources to build the business”. Clients include McDonald’s, DaimlerChrysler, Bayer Corporation, Lloyds TSB, Bass and Samsung. She takes over from Mary Bartholomew, who retired at the end of last year.

Before spending seven years at the BBC, Farr worked for Thames Television and at ad agency WCRS.

Farr left the BBC in June, after her job of director of public service broadcast was axed in the incoming director-general’s “One BBC” re-organisation (MW April 6, 2000). She was passed over for the new board-level marketing director’s role, in favour of long-serving BBC executive Matthew Bannister.

Though Dyke has been hailed for his attempts to bring a new ethos to the corporation, the outcome of his reorganisation of the marketing department has been less sure

Bannister resigned from the post six months later after trying to implement a new marketing structure. Since his departure, insiders say BBC marketing has “ground to a halt.” Dyke is understood to be close to naming a successor for the &£180,000 a year role.