Brown’s departure after seven years will be something of a blow to the company, which had come to see him as a “fixture”– it will be doubly galling that he has joined TBWA-owned Staniforth – seen by some at McCann as the “Great Satan” and its main competitor in the North West.

Brown issued a strict “no comment” when approached by How-Do to confirm the rumours that have spread across the North West PR scene in recent days.

However, a rapidly released statement from Staniforth confirmed the move and quoted Brown as commenting: “I'm joining an impressive team. I think the industry is poised to see real development at the reinvigorated TBWA\in Manchester. Staniforth\ is going to play a key role and I'm excited about that and the parallel opportunity to grow the London operation.”


Brown’s new role will see him heading up Staniforth’s London and Manchester office. It is believed he will report jointly to TBWA Manchester’s chief executive, Robert Harwood-Matthews and Tim Lindsay, TBWA’s overall UK and Ireland chief executive.

Brown will take over from Emma Chadwick who quit the consultancy last November to launch her own Manchester-based PR outfit, alongside Paul Chorlton, Staniforth's former financial director.

The appointment continues Brown’s impressive rise – seven years ago he was the managing director of Greenwood Tighe’s relatively small Lymm office, now he is the managing director of, arguably, the largest PR player in the North West.

No replacement for Brown has yet been decided.

Staniforth currently claims to employ 60 people across its two offices. It became part of the TBWA network in 2002 after being sold by its founder and managing director, Phil Staniforth.

www.staniforthpr.co.uk

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