Former JWT boss Toby Hoare finds key new role at merged Wunderman Thomson

Bet Toby Hoare never thought his last big job in advertising (assuming this is) would be as vice chairman of something called Wunderman Thomson – but it is.

Hoare (below) is a former boss of Cordiant’s Bates group (once owned by Saatchi & Saatchi which, somehow or other, found its way to WPP) and CEO of JWT in Europe and its London chairman. An accomplished suit in the rather grand former JWT manner, he’s key to some important accounts including HSBC. This role is now called, somewhat bizarrely, executive sponsor in the new Wunderman Thomson way of doing things.

Hoare says of his new role at merged Wunderman Thomson: “This is about bringing together the best of two outstanding companies to create a truly compelling and differentiated offer in the industry. I’m looking forward to working with the team to help deliver this for our clients and people.”

It’s also about keeping a rather large banking group – a long-time JWT client and key for owner WPP – happy. Some things never change in adland, for all the talk of digital transformation.