(Sharecast News) - Advertising agency M&C Saatchi has reportedly lured one of Britain's top media executives as its next chair.
According to Sky News, Zillah Byng-Thorne, the outgoing boss of media group Future, has agreed to replace Gareth Davis.
City sources told Sky that an announcement confirming Byng-Thorne's departure was likely to be made in the coming days. Her recruitment is likely to be regarded as a coup by investors.
During her tenure at Future, she oversaw rapid growth in its earnings and share price, transforming it from an 'old media' magazine publisher into a digitally-led group.
Byng-Thorne has also agreed to take over as chairman of online review platform Trustpilot.
Sky said that as part of a broader shake-up of M&C's board, Chris Sweetland, a former WPP Group finance executive, is expected to join as a director representing Vin Murria and AdvancedAdvT, the company's biggest shareholder.
Lisa Gordon, the agency's senior independent director, is expected to step down from the board in the next few months.
M&C handles advertising, direct marketing, public relations and sponsorship campaigns for scores of blue-chip clients, including Heineken and Barclays. The government is also a big client of the group, which produces work for the NHS and a number of Whitehall departments.
M&C Saatchi (SAA)