Major change afoot at Grey London and Havas Europe: the former’s CEO Chris Hirst is departing for the latter.
Hirst will serve in the same executive role for the UK and Europe region for what’s being dubbed “Havas Creative Group.” According to MoreAboutAdvertising, Hirst will now report directly to global CEO Andrew Benett.
Hirst assumed the chief executive role in January 2010 after spending more than six years as managing director of Grey’s London office; he helmed the shop when Grey Group won Adweek‘s Global Agency of the Year status in 2013 and earned the same from AdAge in 2014.
Before joining Grey, Hirst held client-facing roles at BBH and Fallon.
The official statement from Hirst:
“I am thrilled to join Havas Worldwide and look forward to working with Andrew and the entire European leadership team. Havas Worldwide’s range of capabilities across Europe is remarkable; its integration and collaborative culture have already resulted in an incredibly modern communications offering for clients. I am excited to help drive that further.”
Grey has already announced Hirst’s replacement: it’s Chief Strategist Lucy Jameson. Jameson, who joined Grey in 2012 after holding the same position at DDB London, worked alongside Hirst and ECD Nils Leonard to develop strategy for the Euro region.
Grey EMEA President/CEO David Patton calls it “a very easy decision,” writing, “It’s a really exciting time for Grey London and it will continue to go from strength to strength.”