Esme Carroll will take over as president of Toronto ad agency Ambrose Carr Linton Kelly on Sept. 1.

Carroll is currently executive vice-president, general manager of MacLaren McCann, a post she has held since the merger of MacLaren and Lintas.

She replaces Martin Kingston, who left the agency in February after 2 1/2 years in the position.

Last month, Kingston joined D’Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles as co-general manager.

Carroll, a 20-year veteran of the ad industry, joined MacLaren Advertising in 1978 after a short stint at Krohn Advertising, in Montreal.

In 1984, she was promoted to senior vice-president, director of client service.

The next year, Carroll became a partner and member of MacLaren’s board of directors.