Unlimited Group CEO Steps Down

In the UK, marcoms group Unlimited has confirmed that CEO Michael Richards has left the business, just twelve months into the role.

Previously known as Creston, and sold to fund manager DBAY in 2016, Unlimited uses a data-led approach - combining human understanding with art and science - to find the best way to drive growth for clients, and then evaluates effectiveness through advanced analytics, quant and qualitative research. Six months ago the group retired two longstanding MR brands, Marketing Sciences and ICM Direct, combining four insight businesses into a 'human understanding' agency, Walnut Unlimited. The latter is 'aligned with' the Insight & Analytics discipline, with the other six in the group covering Health, Customer Engagement, Brand, Digital Transformation, B2B & Technology, and CRM & Acquisition.

Richards (pictured) joined in April last year, with a remit to exploit the growth opportunities the firm said would be afforded by its re-positioning. He previously spent two years at creative agency VCCP where he was International MD and ran the eBay and Paddy Power accounts. Earlier in his career he worked at ad giants Ogilvy, Saatchi and Grey London, followed by nine years leading WFCA. He has since worked as a consultant for five years, and launched his own environmental global water brand.

According to Campaign Magazine, Richards left Unlimited at the end of March, explaining that private equity ownership 'wasn't for me', as he now seeks a role in a more traditional agency environment. The company is now looking for a replacement.

Web site: www.unlimitedgroup.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.