Lawson poised to replace Allan as MediaCom chief

MediaCom joint managing director Nick Lawson (pictured) is tipped to take over from Stephen Allan as chief executive of the WPP Group-owned agency. Allan is expected to take over as Group M’s UK chief executive in the coming weeks.

Sources say that Lawson is on the verge of being appointed ahead of Jane Ratcliffe, the other joint managing director at MediaCom, and Direct MediaCom managing director David Kyffin.

In his new role, Allan will take responsibility for MindShare and Mediaedge:CIA as well as MediaCom. MindShare UK chief executive Kelly Clark will be appointed as the European chief as part of the restructure.

Allan denies that Lawson is about to be promoted and says: “No appointments are being made. I am the chief executive of MediaCom.”

However, insiders claims that an announcement is due to be made internally within the next few weeks.

WPP created Group M in February last year, installing Nick Theakstone, the former investment director of MindShare, as managing director. MediaCom was moved into Group M earlier this year.

Omnicom followed WPP three months later by launching Opera. Interpublic Group was the first holding company to pool its buying resources when it set up Magna.