Ogilvy UK's planning partner James Whatley departs as voluntary redundancies begin
Ogilvy UK’s redundancy round has seen James Whatley, planning partner at the agency, depart after seven years.
James Whatley leaves Ogilvy UK after seven years
Whatley, who revealed his departure in his personal Five Things on Friday newsletter, left the agency on 30 November. In his time there, he has worked with clients such as IBM, Land Rover, Converse and, most recently, International Airlines Group brand Level.
“Truly, Ogilvy has been phenomenal for me,” he wrote.
“It has gifted me a dream list of clients, it has gifted me incredible friends and colleagues – a mixture of honestly some of the smartest and brightest people I've ever met; it gifted me my life partner, love of my life, and mother to my children and it gifted me the most incredible care and support when I faced two of the toughest periods of my life that I have ever been through.
"If you've been following the stuff in the trades, we've been through it this year and after (I say it again) seven years, this felt like a natural inflection point; take time to re-assess the landscape and find a fresh challenge (more on that another time). Truth be told, I joined Ogilvy with a five-year plan. Running over by a couple of years is good enough for me.”
He added that he did not have an immediate job to go to but that he did have ‘plans’ for the new year.
Whatley is understood to have left following the agency’s announcement that the its UK staff were available to request a redundancy package should they wish. At the time of writing, The Drum is awaiting an update from Ogilvy on the number of staff who have taken up that option.
In October, recently installed chief executive Michael Frohlich revealed his new leadership team.
Read James Whatley's 10 Questions With... interview here.
Content created with:
Ogilvy UK NA
Find out more