Former Zenith Media chief executive, Christine Walker, is planning to set up a joint agency with M&C Saatchi, provisionally named Walker Media. Legal wrangles permitting, the agency will open in M&C Saatchi’s Golden Square offices on 1 January and will operate as a 50:50 joint venture.
Walker is coming to the end of her year’s gardening leave following her departure from Zenith, and intends to begin setting up the new company on 25 October when she becomes contractually free. Matters are somewhat complicated, however, by a writ which Zenith has served against Walker in an attempt to prevent her from becoming involved in any projects which could potentially damage Zenith’s business. This restrictive covenant clause in Walker’s contract runs for another twelve months, but, according to legal experts, the interpretation and enforcement of a restrictive covenant clause is tenuous and based on wording and ‘legitimate reason’ rather than hard law.
A spokesman for Zenith claimed that he could see no ambiguity in the contract’s wording and that the initial court hearing on Tuesday appeared to confirm this. Nevertheless both parties agree that the only way to validate the contract is to go through the courts again; a second hearing will take place in November.
Although Walker has made no actual breach of contract to date, Zenith claims it must protect the interests of its company and its shareholders. The only way to do this, it says, is to validate the contract and then follow it to the letter. If successful the enforcement will prevent Christine Walker’s new business from liasing in any way with Zenith’s clients or employees.
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