JWT Euro chief takes global post

J Walter Thompson has promoted its European chief Michael Mädel to the role of president of the global network.

J Walter Thompson has promoted its European chief Michael Mädel to the role of president of the global network.

Mädel will report to Bob Jeffrey, president of JWT North America, who has been made chief executive of the network. Peter Schweitzer, who has served as JWT’s president and chief executive since January 2001, becomes agency chairman.

Mädel will continue to head JWT Europe, Middle East and Africa and will assume responsibility for Asia-Pacific from group president international Miles Colebrook, while Jeffrey will oversee JWT North America and JWT Latin America.

Schweitzer says: “It is a testament to the talent we possess that the next generation of leadership comes from inside the company, having compiled a superlative record of growth and client service.

“Bob Jeffrey has the vision, creativity and dynamism. Michael Mädel has demonstrated a deep grasp of the complex challenges that today’s multinational marketers face and the talent to deliver the resources they need to succeed.”

Mädel, an Austrian, joined JWT in 1990 as chairman and chief executive of JWT Germany. He played a key role clinching the Vodafone and Reckitt Benckiser advertising accounts.