Let's do lunch

inside the world of advertising

In advertising, appearances are everything. But don't be deceived by Ben Langdon. He's the personable young chief executive at Collett Dickenson Pearce who last week announced his move to the same job at McCann-Erickson - after five months of secret talks with McCann's chairman David Warden. All terribly civilised, you might think, sizing up Langdon as the sort who'd have made a splendid school prefect. In fact, Langdon has dabbled in dastardly playground tactics and is one of the toughest eggs in the industry: less than three years ago Campaign revealed the sorry tale of his dust-up with former boss Chris Still among bemused Oxford Street shoppers. Let's hope Warden knows a little politesse.

Ammirati Puris Lintas gets hipper by the day. Only weeks ago, Interflora succumbed to its charms, handing over its pounds 4m UK account. And now Paul Woolmington, slick-dressing managing director of 20/20 Media, has shocked his media mates by taking a high-powered job at APL in New York. Woolmington becomes worldwide strategic media director. His first priority? An "apartment" near the Big Apple's finest Armani store.

Ad folk in Soho are fighting to buy bespoke suits from Mark Powell, the shaven-headed local tailor who dresses cool celebrity chicks such as Naomi Campbell and Emily Lloyd. But why the hurry? Because Saatchi and Saatchi, where half of the staff already wear Powell, has teamed up with the production company BFCS to make a shoestring commercial for Powell to run in Soho cinemas. (The film, written by Saatchi wild boys Jo Tanner and Viv Walsh, features Powell himself and a glamorous woman who can't take her eyes off him and walks into a lamp-post.) What's more, Powell is soon to feature in a TV documentary. Within no time, absolutely everyone will be wearing his suits. The question on everyone's lips: when did you buy yours?

For the second time in two years the rotund former ad director at British Telecom, Robert "Emperor Mung" Bean, is attempting to set up his own business. Only weeks ago, his creative partners at Bean MC cleared off in a huff - and the two sides raced to set up new ventures. It looks as if Mung has beaten them. This week he returns with new pals relaunching as a brand development and communications company. After his gloomy experience at Bean MC he's avoiding funky names. The new set-up is monikered Bean Andrews Norways Cramphorn. Simply trips off the tongue.

Advertising agencies do not commonly fire major clients. But that's precisely what Euro RSCG Wnek Gosper did this week. The agency has long- standing connections with the drinks giant Guinness: creative director Mark Wnek created the Rutger Hauer campaign when he was at Ogilvy & Mather. For some time, Euro RSCG has handled Guinness brands such as Kaliber and four months ago landed the pounds 5m Kilkenny account. Then Guinness moved that account following the appointment of a new marketing director, so Brett Gosper, the agency's macho chief executive, said the agency wanted nothing more to do with Guinness. He told Campaign: "This is a very tough decision for us but a principle isn't a principle until it costs you money." Good for him.

ALEX SOMERSET