The Non-Hatchet Man

When asked what his chief contribution to J. Walter Thompson has been, the new president of the world's biggest advertising agency (expected 1973 billings: $800 million) gets right to the point.

"I am not a hatchet man," says Edward ("Ted") Wilson, 53, who got the job last week, "but I have done more cleaning out of this place [before becoming president] than any of the past presidents."

He is not exaggerating; the staff in Thompson's U.S. offices has been pared from a top-heavy 2,458 in January 1972 to 2, 1 85 in September this year, and Wilson was largely responsible.

Now Wilson becomes chief operating officer, succeeding Henry Schachte, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 60. Wilson, who was born in New York City, joined Thompson at 26 as a mail clerk determined to get into advertising. He grabbed the first account-executive job offered and stuck to that side of the business, becoming a vice president in 1956 and a senior vice president in 1964. A towering 6 ft. 4 in., he strides through the agency halls at a lope, dropping in on creative and ac count people; he would rather see them in their offices than summon them to his.

Wilson and former Radio Announcer Dan Seymour, who continues as chairman and chief executive, face a tough job. During 1971 and 1972, Thompson lost accounts representing about $54 million in annual billings, including L. & M. cigarettes, Firestone tires and Ford's small cars. This year the company has picked up 33 new accounts, but none are as large as the giants that got away, and much of the comeback burden may fall on Wilson's shoulders. With Seymour, 59, due for mandatory retirement next year, Wilson is in line for the top spot.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.