Senior departures from Innocence

Simon Bailey, managing director of Interbrand sister group Innocence, has resigned from the group, along with senior consultant Glyn Britton.

The high level departures will fuel speculation about the integration of the Omnicom-owned consultancies, since a replacement managing director is not expected.

Joint Innocence and Interbrand chief executive Jez Frampton confirms the imminent departures, saying that Bailey ‘will not be replaced at this time’. Bailey joins Enterprise IG in June as client services director.

Frampton says that Innocence and Interbrand will continue to operate as separate businesses, with both groups reporting to him.

However, he does confirm that the groups are increasingly looking to share resources across ‘account management, booking research and freelance knowledge. Operational efficiency is what we’re looking for. What we will not be doing is stealing each other’s intellectual property.’

Frampton adds that Interbrand will shortly be taking on a senior brand consultant from Prophet, as well as an advertising planner who will help to develop creative strategy. The former appointment, he says, ‘sends a clear message that we will be refocusing Interbrand as the McKinsey of branding’.

Bailey and Britton were unavailable for comment as Design Week went to press.