Crossword Genius

Quietly directed to another agency and promoted (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

preferred

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'promoted' is the definition.
(preferring is a kind of promoting)

'quietly directed' is the wordplay.
'quietly' becomes 'p' (p for piano and quiet).
'directed' becomes 'referred' (referring is a kind of directing).
'p'+'referred'='PREFERRED'

'to another agency and' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for preferred that I've seen before include "Chose before others" , "Liked better" , "Was partial to" , "singled out" , "choice" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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