CST denies bias after hiring Simons Jnr

Chick Smith Trott (CST) has appointed M&C Saatchi group account director Nick Simons to the new role of managing director.

Simons, a former LWT television sales executive, is the son of Paul Simons, the chief executive of CST holding company Cagney. A group spokeswoman says the appointment is not nepotism. “He was honestly the best man for the job,” she says. Simons himself says he has been considering his “development” for some time and felt it was an opportunity to take on a leadership role.

Simons worked with clients that included British Airways, Thomas Pink, Lastminute.com, Halfords and Qantas during his eight years at M&C. He joined from RPM3 after three years in sales at LWT. Simons takes up his post in September.

Cagney acquired Walsh Trott Chick Smith in February this year, when Paul Simons took over as interim chief executive, and renamed the agency CST in April. Last month the agency lost its hold on the £15m Sainsbury’s Bank account (MW June 8).

Paul Simons, the former Ogilvy Group chairman and chief executive, launched Cagney, an anagram of “agency”, last year and floated it on the Alternative Investment Market. The holding company also includes promotional marketing specialist Cubo, brand consultancy Brand Aid and PR business The Media Foundry.