Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy seeks ‘high profile’ vice-chairman

Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy has put out a brief for a vice-chairman to work alongside chief executive Helen Calcraft, following the protracted illness of chairman Jeremy Miles.

The agency, owned by the Canadian Cossette Communication Group, is looking for a “high profile” industry figure to help build existing client relationships and drive new business.

The agency has been working hard to expand its client list since retaining its flagship Waitrose account, put out to pitch last year. It recently snatched the Hovis business from McCann Erickson, following a pitch between Premier Foods roster agencies. The company is planning to spend £15m re-launching the Hovis brand.

Last year the agency strengthened its management with the promotions of Michael Pring and Melissa Robertson to joint managing directors.

Last summer MCBD hired Phd founder Jonathan Durden as a partner. The agency was put under the media spotlight when he went into the Big Brother house. His appearance on the Channel 4 show was followed by a News of the World exposé and a stint in rehab for Durden.

It is understood that Calcraft was initially looking for a non-executive chairman to lead the agency but has only recently been actively searching for a vice-chairman.

The agency refused to comment on the new brief.

MCBD and its subsidiary Elvis were acquired by Cossette three years ago, in a six-year, three-part deal, which meant Cossette initially acquired only 51% of the agency. Last year Cossette acquired Dare Digital in a similar deal, and took an initial stake of 65.4% in the digital agency.

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