Scott to step down at Saatchi & Saatchi

CHARLIE SCOTT, the advertising executive who ejected Maurice and Charles Saatchi from the company they founded, yesterday announced plans for his own departure.

Mr Scott is to give up his role as chairman of Saatchi & Saatchi at the end of the year. He will be succeeded by Bob Seelert, the advertising group's current chief executive.

Mr Scott will continue in his role as chairman of Cordiant Communications Group, the company from which Saatchi & Saatchi was spun off last year. "It's a natural evolution for the company," said Mr Seelert, who is taking a part-time role.

The Saatchis were forced to leave Saatchi & Saatchi - as the entire company was then called - after institutional shareholders balked at their pay packages. They set up a new agency called M&C Saatchi and forced Saatchi & Saatchi to pay for continuing to use their names.

Kevin Roberts, chief executive of the Saatchi & Saatchi advertising business, will become chief executive of the group. Finance director Bill Cochrane is promoted to the board as chief financial officer.