McCann's Lovett cool on new creative director speculation
Following Friday's speculation linking Paul Baker to the creative director post at McCanns, The Drum spoke to McCann Birmingham boss Dean Lovett for an update on his search to replace departing creative chief Gary Setchell.
Setchell is to leave the agency and the industry altogether in April when he returns to full-time education to train as a teacher.
This has led some sources to suggest that former McCann creative director Paul Baker, now of KLM, might return to the role.
Baker cooled speculation on Friday when he said he had no plans to leave KLM and had not spoken to McCanns about the vacancy.
And Lovett told The Drum he was still working closely with Steve Henry, who works with McCann Birmingham part-time, to find Setchell’s successor.
He said the quality of CVs they had received from London and “a couple from the regions” were “average to very good”.
And he did not rule out the possibility of an internal appointment or hiring co-creative directors.
“I just want the best person I can get for this role. I will not settle on anything less," Lovett said.
"There have been so many changes in the creative side of the business recently that this time I will definitely get the best person and I will put a significant budget behind that,” he added.
Once the creative search is complete the McCann Birmingham CEO will turn his attention to finding a managing director to oversee the advertising side of the
business.
That decision follows the recent appointment of Kevin Murphy as managing director of the media division from Mindshare.
McCann Erickson is a member of the Marketing Industry Network.