Big Communications' client services director, Mike Rose, and two former creative directors of Connect have been tipped to launch a Midlands-based start-up agency.

The Drum understands that Rose, who joined Big two years ago from Wolverhampton's Connect, will join up with former colleagues Ian Boulter and Martin Heffernan, the ex-Connect creative directors who left at the end of last year, when he leaves the Leicester-based agency next week.

Rose, who has been working his notice period since January, refused to confirm the rumours that he is primed to launch a start-up agency but admitted he had enjoyed a good relationship with Boulter and Heffernan in the past.

“I know I'm being linked with those guys and I do know them very well,” he said. “They are the best creative team I have worked with in my career.” He added that he was leaving Big on good terms.

Prior to joining Big in January 2007, Rose held the position of group account director at Connect for just over two years. Before that he spent five years at Cogent in the West Midlands where he was an account director.

Rose has been replaced at Big by Holly Bell, who has joined from Albion where she spent six months as an account director. She was previously an account director for four years at DLKW, where she was part of the pitch team that took Morrisons to the agency.