Arun Sudhaman

Posted to the Holmes Report here

Nigel Kennedy has departed Gardant Communications after just three months to become chief executive at The Communication Group.

Kennedy rejoins The Communication Group after 17 years, almost all of which were spent at Grayling, including a decade as chief executive. Kennedy departed Grayling in late 2009, before resurfacing as a partner at Gardant in October 2010.

In an email announcing his move, Kennedy that his time at Gardant “wasn’t really working out as I had hoped and it seemed best to move on.”

Kennedy’s arrival at The Communication Group next week comes 18 months after former chief executive Michael Hayman abruptly departed the firm to start his own agency, Seven Hills. Since then chairman Maureen Sutherland Smith has also held chief executive duties.

“We are extremely pleased that Nigel is returning to us after an absence of 17 years,” said Sutherland Smith.  “He was one of The Communication Group’s early members when he was with us originally and made a very valuable contribution then. We are in no doubt that his wide experience will help to build on The Communication Group’s strengths and take the company to new thresholds of growth.”

Kennedy spent seven years at The Communication Group after joining the agency when it was a few months old in 1986. At Grayling, Kennedy led the firm’s successful management buyout from Havas in 2004 and consequent sale to Huntsworth, before eventually departing months after Huntsworth announced it was merging the agency with sister firms Trimedia and Mmd.

“I am delighted to be back,” said Kennedy. The consultancy has an exceptional reputation for quality people and outstanding work, and has great potential. The PR market is full of change, with new client demands, issues and techniques. I believe we can take a growing share in a number of key areas of this market. And that is what we shall do.”