Bill Grogan

After 27 Years in Industry, Says He May Exit for Good
By Rupal Parekh

Published: May 12, 2008
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Bill Grogan has resigned as president of Berlin Cameron United after five years at the WPP Group-owned agency.

Mr. Grogan -- who has spent 27 years in the industry and is married to Lori Senecal, president of McCann-Erickson, New York -- said he may be leaving the industry altogether: "What I'm doing and where I'm going remains to be seen," said Mr. Grogan in an interview. "I'm looking at a range of options ... the expectation is I'll wind up outside the industry."

He joined Berlin Cameron, New York, in 2003 as its first president, on the heels of a lengthy run at Interpublic Group of Cos.' McCann -- where he supervised accounts for mega-marketers such as Coca Cola and Johnson & Johnson. Prior to that, he did a stint at BBDO Worldwide, working primarily on General Electric and Lever household brands.

Mr. Grogan gave notice about a week ago, and said he is leaving the agency "on wonderful terms." He will assist with a transition, and plans to officially take leave sometime within the next six weeks.

"We wish him well in what he does next," said Ewen Cameron, CEO-executive creative director. The agency for the time being will reassign Mr. Grogan's duties, with Mr. Cameron assuming the bulk of the client-facing responsibilities himself.

Andy Berlin, chairman-CEO of the Voluntarily United Group of Creative Agencies, did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment, and a WPP spokesman could not be immediately reached.

Mr. Grogan's departure comes as Berlin Cameron, one of eight agencies under the United banner, managed to increase revenue 10% to $23 million in 2007, according to Advertising Age's recent agency rankings. It did so despite a difficult patch that saw the exit of its Boost Mobile account, and loss of a major Heineken account in a surprise shift of the beer maker's lager and Premium Light brands to Wieden & Kennedy, Portland, Ore., last year.