Harold Mitchell won't comment on his August departure date, but he did say that 10 August will be 54 years “to the day” since he started his media career in Melbourne.
The industry has been hearing whispers about Harold Mitchell stepping down from his role at Aegis for months, but now sources have confirmed that the Aegis Pacific executive chairman will step down from his role in August.
A departure on 10 August would be a symbolic exit for the famed boss of Aegis Pacific. When AdNews contacted Mitchell about his farewell to media, he said: “I refuse to comment on any departure date.”
However, after some gentle prodding he went on to say: “August 10 will be 54 years to the day that I started in Melbourne. Make of that what you will. But I refuse to comment.”
His departure will leave Aegis Pacific chief executive Luke Littlefield at the helm of the company.
AdNews reported this morning in the print edition an early August exit date for Mitchell was likely.
Mitchell's departure comes only months after global advertising giant Dentsu bought Aegis for nearly $5 billion, a deal that netted Mitchell $200 million.
In 2010 Mitchell sold his Mitchell Communication Group to Aegis Media, which saw his media agency Mitchell & Partners brought into the Aegis stable alongside global agency brands like Vizeum and Carat.
While the Aegis deal has forced the Mitchell & Partners brand to take a back seat to Vizeum and Carat, it is unlikely the famous local brand will disappear entirely from the market.
Mitchell is renowned as a pioneer in the advertising industry. In 1976 he launched Mitchell & Partners, and from a standing start with $2000, he grew the company into Mitchell Communication Group, boasting the largest media billings in the country.
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