Lines noted that while there had been departures in both offices, the goal now was to "reassure clients and staff that this is an agency that has a future and will continue as a boutique agency within the WPP Group."
The news follows the departures of senior staff from both agencies, including the very public departure of Thailand chief executive officer Danai Chanchaochai. "It has been a very difficult and trying time for me," Danai told Media. "I was being given mixed messages by the parent company and I could not handle it any more."
Danai also denied claims that he has set up a new PR agency in the country.
Previous MDK Singapore CEO Michael Rose has also left, after Media first reported that WPP was considering the integration of the agency into Burson-Marsteller (Media, October 14). He is believed to be starting up his own agency, but declined to comment on the speculation.
Additional reporting by Gunjan Prasad
MDK severs links with de Kretser as Lines steps in
Hill & Knowlton regional president and chief operating officer Vivian Lines has taken on the acting chief executive officer role for sister WPP agency MDK Consultants Singapore and Malaysia, and has confirmed the "termination" of group CEO Michael de Kretser's involvement in the agency, as of late March.
