Advico Young & Rubicam: The end of the Beer era

Advertising doesn't stay young forever:Prepared long in advance, Zurich-based advertising agency Advico Young & Rubicam (AY&R) has reorganized its management. After almost twenty years, Urs Beer (54) will hand over the chairmanship on July 1 to Peter Felser, who previously headed the Strategic Planning and New Business departments. "After intensive years in various agency constellations," says Urs Beer, "I decided last year to refocus my activities." In the future, the outgoing managing director will be available to the agencies of the AY&R Group as an active board member in the context of individual project and coaching tasks. Peter Felser will be replaced by Rolf Zimmermann. The 38-year-old, who also holds the newly created position of Impact Director, was previously Client Service Director.
The consulting groups and various service departments will report to Martin Kronenberg. The 35-year-old former Client Service Director will be given the competencies of a Managing Director.
There is no change at the top of the creative department: The entire department continues to be headed by Creative Director Martin Spillmann, who at 46 is the oldest of the new management team.
The Finance Department, on the other hand, will be entrusted to 41-year-old Michael Weber as of the end of August. Weber replaces the previous Chief Financial Officer, Otto Spirig (48), who is taking on a new professional challenge after ten years.
Chairman of the Board of Advico Young & Rubicam Switzerland remains Bruno Widmer, Chairman AY&R Europe. The reshuffle is taking place under Peter Felser's chairmanship. (ew)