Paul Edwards out as Lowe regroups.

Paul Edwards is quitting as the chairman of Lowe in the wake of sweeping changes at the agency, which include the dismantling of its board and the installation of a new planning chief.

The reforms mark a radical streamlining of the UK's third-largest shop by Matthew Bull, the South African drafted in as the chief executive earlier this year to put it back on course after a string of account losses and its failure to get on pitchlists.

The 60-strong board is being scrapped as part of Bull's effort to rid Lowe of bureaucracy. It will be replaced by a group of seven senior managers, including Bull and Paul Weinberger, the chief creative officer for Europe, who replaces Edwards as chairman.

They are joined by Jeremy Bowles, the managing director, and Mark Cadman, the client services director, who will also have the title of MD. Damon Collins, the executive creative director, Vince Squibb, the senior creative, and Eric McClean, the finance director, complete the line-up.

The changes are seen as an attempt by Bull to give the talent within the agency a chance, rather than go immediately for fresh blood.

Bull said: 'Everyone on the management group has proved themselves to be a good leader or has the potential to be one. The only person in the group who hasn't proved himself is me.'

Meanwhile, Joanna Bamford is being ...