AKQA Parts With Global Chief Technology Officer After 12 Years

By Patrick Coffee 

Ben Jones, the London-based global chief technology officer of WPP’s AKQA, has left the agency after more than a dozen years.

His departure leaves a significant opening in the tech-focused organization, whose global CCO Rei Inamato left last September to launch his own design consultancy along with New York general manager Rem Reynolds.

An agency spokesperson provided this statement and told us that Jones decided to leave his role and the ad industry at large for an undetermined period in order to spend more time with his family:

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“We sincerely appreciate Ben’s commitment and contribution to our company. Family is very important to AKQA and we respect his decision to give time to his family. Ben will always be a friend of AKQA and on behalf of the team I would like to thank him for the last 12 years of service.”

“It’s been an incredible journey,” Jones wrote in his own statement. “We have created ideas that have set the bar within the industry and I’m proud of my involvement. After 12 enjoyable years I’ve decided to give time to my family. It’s simply an honour to have worked with some of the best minds in the industry and I wish them all the best for the future. I leave having made many friends and fond memories. Amazing times, amazing people and amazing products.”

Jones joined AKQA in 2004 after working as a consultant for tech companies in London. He moved up to become the network’s European tech director and global CTO, eventually working on such projects as the Nike+ VR training club, Fiat’s “first connected automobile” and a product that Dyson calls the world’s first robotic vaccum cleaner.

AKQA declined to comment on its immediate plans to replace Jones. But we hear that the organzation will eventually name new directors of technology for both North America and its international network.

The network acquired a majority stake in app development firm Potato earlier this year, but the London office continues to handle most of its clients’ European tech projects.

In other staffing updates, the network’s New York and San Francisco offices are still looking for creative leaders at this time.

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