Could WPP Chief Sorrell's Successor Be Lord Stephen Carter?

(MoneyWatch)  Blatherskite, a British web site, is speculating that lord Stephen Carter could be in line to succeed WPP chief Martin Sorrell. BNET noted that WPP was planning for his succession back in May.

Carter (pictured) is a former JWT man who recently quit Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government, where he was communications minister. He formerly served as Brown's strategist and adviser. And, with his medieval title (Sorrell is a "knight," remember), he's got just the sort of pedigree that Sorrell likes.

Carter was thought to have wanted the top job at ITV, but the Independent reports that moving so quickly from the government to the very industry he was regulating could be ruled out by U.K. government ethics rules.

So now he needs a new job. At the very least, he may end up on WPP's board while Sorrell works through his $95 million, five-year pay deal.

• See previous coverage of WPP:
• WPP Stock Down 11% as CEO Sorrell Gets $95 Mil. Pay Package. Coincidence?
• At WPP, Sorrell's $95 Mil. Pay Package Gathers More Foes -- But Passes Anyway
• WPP's Sorrell Wants $95 Million Pay Package; Sparks Protest at "Unnecessarily Complex" Scheme
• WPP Alleges "Secret Payments" Spoiled Deal With George Patterson, Communications Group
• WPP's Sorrell Dusts Off Latest Wacky Recovery Metaphor: "An Italic L, Flipping Up"
• Sorrell Prepares to Leave WPP Amid 7,000 Layoffs
• WPP Q1: Debt Doubles; "It's All Lehman Brothers' Fault"
• WPP Accuses Spot Runner of $54 Million Scam; Was Sorrell Asleep at the Wheel?
• The Enfatico Fiasco: Isn't This All Dell's Fault?
• WPP's Sorrell Calls Publicis' Levy "Callous" in Remarks on Recession
• Sorrell's Interest in Branded Content Is Explained by WPP's Finances
• WPP's Layoffs Plan Explained -- Wall Street Doesn't Believe Sorrell's Rosy View of the Future