Following much speculation, WWAV Rapp Collins Edinburgh has admitted that its managing director, Jane Ulke, has left the agency.
A comment released by the agency read, “WWAV Rapp Collins Group has concluded a review of its agency operation in Edinburgh. Following this review it has been mutually agreed that managing director, Jane Ulke, will leave the business. A further announcement will be issued in due course.”
The agency said that it would have a further announcement as to who would be taking control of the Edinburgh office within the next two weeks.
Ulke founded her own agency Marketing Mechanics in 1995, offering strategic communications consultancy and project management. The agency provided clients with strategic research, marketing campaign planning, brand/identity development, direct marketing and international communications consultancy. In 2000, Ulke launched Event Mechanics.
She joined WWAV Edinburgh in October 2005.
Prior to launching her own agency, Ulke was head of marketing at Scottish Homes, now Communities Scotland, and previously worked on the brand development and planning team for the launch of Scottish Enterprise.
Ulke has also been director of the Marketing Society Scotland.
Following the closure of WWAV Rapp Collins’ Leeds office, speculation as to the future of WWAV’s UK network has been rife.
In recent years a number of networked agencies – including KLP, Draft and DDB – have pulled their support from Scotland. However, it was reported that clients and staff from the Leeds office were in negotiation to relocate elsewhere within the company.
The Edinburgh division of the agency also recently lost its place on the Visitscotland roster, with Union Direct, Frame and Fraoch Marketing – launched by former WWAV Rapp Collins director Heather McKinlay – appointed in a below-the-line capacity.
At the time of going to press, Jane Ulke could not be contacted.