Turmoil at TBWA as Omnicom eyes BMB

by Noel Bussey, Campaign 03-Oct-08

The future of Tim Lindsay at TBWA\UK Group is in question this week following a raft of reports that Omnicom is close to buying Beattie McGuinness Bungay.

Sources say the London network agency is in a state of turmoil, with
many staff fearing for their own jobs if the deal, which would see BMB
merged with the Omnicom agency, goes through.

Lindsay, the TBWA\UK president, is understood not to have been involved

in the acquisition conversations, leading to speculation that he would

not be involved in future plans should the acquisition go ahead.

Global TBWA sources have confirmed that talks are taking place, but
played down any suggestion that a conclusion was imminent.

BMB, meanwhile, confirmed it has held talks with interested parties, but
denied that any deal had been done.

It is thought that Omnicom is attracted by the strength of the senior
management at BMB, which was set up in 2005 by the former TBWA\London
management team of Trevor Beattie, Andrew McGuinness and Bil Bungay.

A successful acquisition would see the BMB founders return to run the
agency they left only three years ago.

Since their resignation, TBWA\London has lost the advertising accounts
for McCain and French Connection to BMB.