Heathcote set to leave MPL?

MPL managing director Roger Heathcote is believed to be leaving the group some 16 months after joining from Wagstaffs.

His exit comes as four staff are made redundant from MPL’s brands side, including creative director Roger Akroyd. Also going are a designer, account manager Giovanni Mensi and new business executive Lorena Corneille.

The job losses are believed to leave just one creative in brands. However, Stephen Bennett, chairman of parent group Princedale, denies MPL is withdrawing from brands work.

Heathcote is currently believed to be working out his notice. Bennett neither denies nor confirms such a move, saying: “He is looking at where he is and we are looking at where MPL is. It’s not appropriate for me to discuss his personal circumstances.”

Bennett claims there is not a “planned redundancy programme” at the London consultancy.

Although Bennett will not comment on who will become MPL’s managing director, saying it is “hypothetical”, industry sources suggest a return to that role by deputy chairman Peter Sampson.

Industry sources also suggest Heathcote’s departure may be linked to the falling workload on brands which in turn has led to Akroyd’s redundancy.