Grey chief Meyer to step down

LONDON - Ed Meyer, the advertising patriarch who has ruled Grey for 36 years, is to retire, bringing to an end a career with the group that stretches back 50 years.

Grey sources said the terms of Meyer's (pictured) exit had still to be finalised, but an announcement was expected to be made before Christmas.

Meyer, who will be 80 in January, controlled Grey with an iron authority until he sold the group, which he had a majority shareholding in, to Sir Martin Sorrell's WPP group in March 2005. He stayed on as the chairman and chief executive.