Rees move underlines TMD planning strategy

TMD Carat has promoted broadcast director Simon Rees to deputy managing director as the management develops a more planning-led strategy.

Rees will take over some of the management responsibilities from managing director Mark Craze, while retaining control over the TV buying department.

He has been the driving force behind recent moves to reposition the media independent as a planning-led business, based on a more qualitative interpretation of media specialism.

"My job will include looking at TMD’s approach to the media product – including new media and involvement in programming through sponsorship and co-production," says Rees.

As a result of this policy, TMD poached Prudential marketing manager Blackett Ditchburn in October last year to take on a newly created role as director of communications strategy.

The move is also a response to very rapid new business expansion during 1994, with overall billings growing from 216m to 310m (Media Register). This includes winning Asda, Reckitt & Colman and News Group.

However, Oral-B this week decided to shift its 1m media business out of TMD, consolidating it into its creative agency Abbott Mead Vickers. BBDO as part of the full-service package.