Stephen Carter to join NTL as chief operating officer

by JOHN TYLEE, Campaign 08-Sep-00

Stephen Carter, J. Walter Thompson's chief executive, is leaving the agency to join one of its biggest clients, NTL.

Stephen Carter, J. Walter Thompson's chief executive, is leaving the agency to join one of its biggest clients, NTL.

Carter will become NTL's chief operating officer. He departs the agency at the end of October.

The day-to-day running of JWT will be handled by its existing chairman, Tim Davis, until a replacement for Carter is found.

The agency does not have a managing director.

Davis said: 'I have enormous confidence in the management group and its ability to run the agency. I am confident of the smooth and successful running of this place.'

Carter's commitment to the agency has been subject to speculation since he rejected an offer to become the chief executive of the ITV Network (Campaign, 25 August).

Carter was instrumental in getting the NTL account into JWT in March last year and has remained close to it.

During that time, the company has taken over the residential business of Cable & Wireless Communications and is expected to be a bidder for Telewest.

Michael Madel, the president and chief executive of JWT, said: 'Stephen has done a fantastic job over the past three years and we are delighted that he is joining one of our key UK clients and look forward to working with him in a different role.'

In an internal memo to staff, he said: 'Whilst I feel as though I am leaving my job slightly early, these opportunities come along once in a lifetime.'