Ogilvy Chairman to Take Post at American Express

Just about everyone knows the American Express ad slogan, “Don’t Leave Home Without It.” The chairman of the agency that created that slogan for American Express plans to leave his 26-year “home” at Ogilvy & Mather to take a senior post at American Express.

Kenneth Roman, 59, will step down in December as chairman and chief executive of the Ogilvy Group to become executive vice president-corporate affairs and communications at American Express. “Opportunities like American Express come rarely in one’s career,” said Roman, in a statement. “At this stage of my life, it’s simply too exciting to turn down.”

Top advertising executives on Madison Avenue say Roman has been unhappy at his post at Ogilvy since the New York ad agency was acquired earlier this year by the giant British-based marketing firm, WPP Group PLC. WPP is headed by the marketing wizard Martin Sorrell, who became Roman’s boss after the takeover.

Roman is not being replaced in his position at the Ogilvy Group because the holding company’s functions have been largely taken over by WPP. But Roman will be replaced as chairman and chief executive of Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide by Graham Phillips, 50, who has been president of Ogilvy’s North American operations.

Also, Alexander Brody, 56, assumes the newly created post of president of Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide. Brody was most recently president of Ogilvy & Mather’s international operations.

“All of us in business today live in a fast-changing world,” said Phillips. “The focus is on results, not tomorrow but today.” Phillips, who has been with Ogilvy since 1965 and has run Ogilvy offices in Houston, New York, Toronto and Amsterdam, said he will work hard to improve client services at Ogilvy.

Ogilvy has seen a number of changes at the top in recent years. Just 1 1/2 years ago, William E. Phillips (not related to Graham) resigned as chairman of Ogilvy and was replaced by Roman. Several months ago, the agency’s long-time creative head, Norman Berry, also left the company.

But Wall Street observers said the latest change at the top will probably not have any major effect on the company.

“It’s a surprise but certainly not a shock,” said Alan Gottesman, analyst at the New York investment firm, Paine Webber. “He (Roman) was looking for a graceful way out, and I’d say he has found it.” Roman worked very closely with top executives at American Express--which has been one of Ogilvy’s largest and most widely recognized clients.

American Express executives deny that Roman is taking a step down in accepting the post at their company.

“The quick answer is, American Express is a bigger sand box than Ogilvy,” said Lawrence A. Armour, a spokesman at American Express. In his new post, which begins in December, Roman will be reporting directly to American Express chairman and chief executive, James D. Robinson III.

In a statement, Sorrell, chief executive of WPP Group, said, “Ken is an outstanding executive and we are sorry he had decided to leave Ogilvy. Happily, he is joining a company with close ties to Ogilvy & Mather.”