Wallace quits Barkers to take on client-side role
Chris Wallace has quit as managing director of Barkers Advertising Scotland to join Scottish Water as its new director of communications.
Wallace will leave Barkers next month, and it is thought he will take over the role at Scottish Water at the beginning of April.
His appointment at Scottish Water follows the departure of former director of corporate affairs Atholl Duncan, who returned to BBC Scotland in October.
Robert Bain, chief executive of Barkers and former managing director of Barkers Advertising Scotland, will oversee the running of the business during the search for Wallace’s successor.
Christina Kelly, managing director of Barkers PR Scotland, confirmed the departure. She said: “It’s good news for Chris and we obviously wish him all the best. He’s leaving a bit of a hole but we’ll replace him as quickly as we can.”
At the time of going to press, the news of Wallace’s appointment at Scottish Water had yet to be announced within the utilities company.
But Helen Lennox, head of corporate affairs at Scottish Water, said: “We’re very happy to have someone else on board.
“It’s an expanded role as there is obviously a lot of communications work within Scottish Water.” However, she went on to say that Wallace’s responsibilities had yet to be decided.
Wallace was appointed MD of Barkers in 2003 after ten years on the account handling side of the agency.
He worked on a string of campaigns for the Scottish Executive during his time with the agency.
He had previously worked at Hall Advertising and as a brand manager for Whyte and Mackay.
Barkers has seen a host of high-profile departures over the last few years, particularly in the 10-strong management team Wallace put in place in 2003.
Director Andy Jones quit the agency in 2004 to launch his own consultancy, Cloudline. And advertising director, Mike Kemsley, left after six and a half years in September 2005 to launch his own agency, Kemsley.