Marketing executive Sam Kelly steps down from his position as Chief Marketing Officer at AKQA Group following a 17-year tenure.
A Fresh Spin:
The notable AKQA Group is experiencing another high-profile exit from its C-suite. In a recent staff memo acquired by ADWEEK, Sam Kelly, the marketing chief, revealed his decision to bid farewell after a commendable 17-year ride with the agency.
Kelly's announcement comes hot on the heels of Ajaz Ahmed, the agency's founder and CEO, announcing his departure after an impressive 30-year stint. Ahmed's successor or the next interim chair for AKQA Group isn't explicitly mentioned in the latest updates, although AKQA and its parent company WPP are expected to unveil their plan early next year.
During his tenure, Kelly climbed ranks from a business development director to the global CMO. His contributions significantly contributed to broadening both the AKQA and Grey brands.
In the interim, the remaining AKQA leadership, combined with Grey leadership, will steer operations. WPP's chief technology officer, Stephan Pretorius, will lend his oversight as interim chair.
As the agency navigates a transition period, the industry awaits announcements about the new leadership and further updates on the restructure. Stay tuned for more updates!
Notes on Enrichment Data:Following Ajaz Ahmed's resignation as the CEO of AKQA, the company is undergoing a restructuring, but specific details about who will succeed Ahmed or serve as an interim chair are not yet mentioned in the available information[1][3]. Therefore, the current successor or interim chair for Ajaz Ahmed at AKQA Group is not explicitly stated in the provided search results.
- WPP's chief technology officer, Stephan Pretorius, has been tasked with providing interim leadership at AKQA, as the agency navigates a transition period following Ajaz Ahmed's departure as CEO.
- Despite Ajaz Ahmed's exit, Kelly's contributions to AKQA and Grey brands as the global CMO spanned a successful 17-year tenure, which saw him ascend from a business development director.
- The CEO role at AKQA, previously held by Ajaz Ahmed for an impressive 30-year stint, remains vacant and the agency, along with its parent company WPP, are yet to reveal their plans for a successor.
- In light of the ongoing restructuring at AKQA, the leadership team, assembled from both AKQA and Grey, will oversee operations while waiting for further announcements regarding the new leadership and detail about the business restructure.
