Unlimited drafts in former WFCA boss as group MD

Three weeks after revealing its new agency structure, the Unlimited Group has appointed VCCP international chief and former WFCA CEO Michael Richards as group managing director.
In his new role, Richards will lead the group’s efforts to capitalise on its new positioning, which has seen Unlimited simplify its offering and bring data and creative closer together. He will report into group chairman Iain Ferguson.
Richards started his career at Ogilvy in 1986 and then had spells at Saatchi as well as Grey London before becoming chief executive at WFCA, a role he held for nine years.
He then spent five years as a consultant before launching his own environmental global water brand, Vivid Water in a Box.
Richards joined VCCP in 2016, where he has been international managing director, as well as running the eBay and Paddy Power accounts.
Unlimited Group president Tim Bonnet said: “With our simplified and honed client offer, we are ready for a sustained period of accelerated client growth, which Michael has an enviable track record in delivering. Boasting an impressive average tenure of more than ten years for our top 20 clients, there isn’t a better home for clients’ marketing needs than Unlimited.”
Richards added: “Unlimited Group is a gem, with some great agency brands. I’m very excited to be working with such an impressive team, being wingman to the existing management and looking forward to lots of collective success and fun delivering great outcomes for our clients as we bring our new proposition ‘The impact of Art and Science’ to life.”