Harrison Cowley and Trimedia merge and hire former Big founder Isdale
Huntsworth-owned agencies,Trimedia and Harrison Cowley, are to merge and have hired former BIG Partnership founder, Graham Isdale, as managing director of the Scottish operation.
The newly formed agency – which will be called Trimedia Harrison Cowley – will employ 14 people across Scotland.
Trimedia’s office in Edinburgh will be closed, with staff moving into Harrison Cowley’s base in the city. Trimedia’s office in Glasgow will remain open. It is thought some staff will be encouraged to move through to Glasgow to create a balance at both offices. The merger takes effect across both agencies’ offices across the UK.
The merger creates a power battle between Trimedia managing director, Nicky Hawkins, and Harrison Cowley director, Jeremy Hamilton. Although it is thought both will still have senior management roles, Isdale is yet to unveil his management structure and is currently on holiday.
Speaking of the merger, Trimedia Harrison Cowley CEO, Paul Kelly, said the move was mooted by both agencies.
“This is very much both agencies going to Huntsworth and saying ‘we want to merge’,” he said.
“We recognised that to succeed in the marketplace you need to have scale and a European dimension. Graham [Isdale] will have the decision over his management structure. This is very much about investing in our operation.”
Isdale joined Trimedia in a consultancy role in August, following his departure from BIG in May last year.
The merger will bring Hamilton back into the Trimedia fold. One of the founders of Hatch Group, which was sold to Trimedia in 2003, he left soon after the deal to join First Milk. He joined Harrison Cowley to head up its Scottish operation in December 2005.
Hawkins took over as Trimedia’s managing director in May 2006, when Graeme Jack, the UK regions managing director, left. Then managing director of the Edinburgh office, she was promoted to take control of its Scottish operation.