Managing partner Lake quits Addison

Addison managing partner Simon Lake has resigned from the consultancy after seven years in a senior role. He is believed to have no immediate plans.

According to Quentin Anderson, who becomes joint managing director of the WPP Group-owned consultancy alongside Matthew King, Lake is “looking for a fresh arena”, having “bedded down” Addison within WPP following its acquisition two years ago (DW 8 August 1997).

But sources close to the group say that Lake is exhausted. Lake was unavailable for comment.

Anderson says there may be another position for Lake within the WPP Group. Sources within the group say the idea has not been ruled out.

Anderson was previously managing director of Sampson Tyrrell Corporate Marketing, which merged with WPP stablemate Addison in October 1997. He then became a partner of Addison. He will be responsible for external dealings with clients, the media and others. King, who has been managing director since last November, will handle internal management.

Anderson says Addison is continuing to reposition itself as a “stakeholder communications consultant”. “We are keen to be seen as broader than annual report consultants,” he says. A digital media arm was launched last year, headed by board director Lois Love and director of digital media Jeremy Keohane.