"If Jack Connors just grows his business as he has in the last three years," Mr. Beard added, "we will be ecstatic."

Mr. Bertino, 35, succeeds Jack Connors, 50, who will continue as the agency's chief executive.

Jay Hill and the agency's president, Jack Connors and a handful of senior people piled into two cars and headed to Wang's Lowell headquarters.

Mr. Hill, who was known as Jay, started the agency in 1968 with three associates: Alan Holliday, Jack Connors and Steve Cosmopulos; each contributed $1,500.

Jack Connors, the president and chief executive of Hill, Holiday, Connors, Cosmopulos, said he was only cautiously optimistic.

It featured Jack Connors, Miriam Cooper and Peggy Hopkins Joyce.

Jack Connors remains president and chief executive of the entire company.

"The agency needed to bring in some fresh creative talent," said Jack Connors, the president of Hill, Holiday.

The promotion sets up Mr. Sheehan as the eventual heir apparent to Jack Connors, the longtime chairman and chief executive at Hill, Holliday.

Jack Connors (Fred Applegate), formerly a homeless man and a great practical joker.