Former Carat chief to take reins at Universal McCann

Brian Jacobs, the former managing director of Carat International, has been appointed by Universal McCann to the newly created position of executive vice-president and head of worldwide accounts.

Jacobs, who is currently on gardening leave, will start his new job in August.

Jacobs left Carat International in January this year. His departure is understood to have been prompted by a series of management changes, which followed the appointment of Jerry Buhlmann as chief executive.

Universal McCann has created two more positions in its management team for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Former strategic planning director of McCann-Erickson Dublin Kay McCarthy becomes strategic planning director for EMEA.

Chris Shaw, chairman of Universal McCann UK & Ireland group, will take on the management of two new divisions within Universal McCann. Shaw will become executive vice-president of Universal Interactive EMEA and Universal Programming EMEA.

McCarthy and Shaw will report to the regional director of Universal McCann’s EMEA division, Ben Langdon.

Langdon, who was previously chairman and chief executive of McCann-Erickson UK, took on the responsibility for McCann’s media network across Europe in December last year.