- Adweek Staff

NEW YORK John Colasanti, CEO of Minneapolis-based Interpublic Group shop Carmichael Lynch, will leave effective April 1, the agency said today.

Mike Lescarbeau, president and CCO, and Mark Feriancek, CFO and COO, take over.

Colasanti, 49, "is considering brand marketing opportunities outside of the agency," the shop said in a statement. He has been with Carmichael Lynch for 15 years.
 
"This spring I plan to catch my breath and make up for lost time with my family before diving into my next professional challenge," Colasanti said in the statement. "The decision to leave was extremely difficult, but it's absolutely the right time for me to do this."

Initially hired in a new business capacity, Colasanti rose through the management ranks. At various points, he ran the Harley-Davidson account, led the agency's account group and served as managing partner and president.

During Colasanti's tenure, Carmichael Lynch has more than doubled in size in terms of revenue, billings and head count, the agency said.

Its biggest score came in October 2007, when the shop added creative and media chores on Subaru of America, worth more than $200 million at the time.