Baker set to switch McCann for WAA
Paul Baker, executive creative director of McCann Erickson Central, is understood to be leaving for Sutton Coldfield-based WAA - the agency he agreed to join in 2005, before making a last minute decison to stay at McCann.
The Drum understands that the switch is back on and that Baker will be put in charge of WAA’s creative department in a similar role to the one he’s held at McCann’s since 2003. It’s not yet clear how his arrival would affect WAA’s current CD Steve Eltringham, who joined the business in 2006.
Three years ago Baker was at the centre of one of the industry’s most unusual stories, when the two agencies laid claim to his services. WAA had announced Baker’s appointment in August 2005, but a month later McCann revealed that he’d changed his mind and would be remaining at the agency. At the time, WAA bosses were unaware of the u-turn and reiterated their belief that Baker would be joining them. It wasn’t until October that Baker stepped forward to reveal his intention was to stay in Solihull with McCann.
However, the move is now believed to be going ahead, although both WAA CEO Andrew Wilson and his opposite number at McCann, Dean Lovett, were unavailable for comment.