Dentsu Aegis Network-owned (DAN) digital agency Isobar CEO Konrad Spilva is set to exit after 18 years with the business, AdNews can reveal.
Spilva, who also holds the title of DAN head of innovation, will continue to work with the business in an advisory capacity, as well as retaining his spot on the network's local board.
Speaking to AdNews, Spilva said the decision to leave had been in the works for six-months, formally resigning from his role only weeks before the appointment of current DAN boss Henry Tajer.
He said while the decision to leave was an "extremely tough call", he ultimately wanted to put more focus into his wife's online gifting business LVLY.com.au and continue his active involvement in other ventures including data consultancy Alkhemy and Bridge Road Brewery.
The group CEO role will not be directly replaced, with current national MD Erik Hallander, who was promoted at the end of 2017, taking on further responsibility within the agency.
"It was time for a change and to focus in on some of my personal ventures, considering I have been with the business throughout its multiple iterations," Spilva said.
"It really came down to whether or not I wanted to continue driving the growth of this business and considering its strong performance in market, I thought it best to exit at a time when it is at its best."
Spilva said it was important to leave the business in a good shape and he is confident that under Tajer's leadership it would continue to develop at its current trajectory.
While he refused to rule out a return to agency world down the track, Spilva was adamant that he could "not imagine" a world where he worked as a competitor to Isobar.
“I said when I started, DAN ANZ is an incredibly diverse, progressive and agile organisation, largely due to our brilliant people and laser focus on our clients," Tajer said.
"Konrad has made a huge contribution to building Isobar Group ANZ to what it is today, as well as driving innovation across the network."
Spilva began his career as an original founder of Visual Jazz (VJ), which then acquired by Mitchell Communication Group in 2007 for a reported $12.6 million. Following the buy-out of Mitchells by Aegis in 2010, VJ was merged with Aegis shop Isobar in 2012.
In 2015, DAN announced the acquisition of digital agency Soap Creative. The acquisition saw the agency work within Isobar.
Spilva has led these changes throughout the years, culminating in May last year, when the Soap name was officially dropped.
He then took on a broader DAN role, leading Innovation, Isobar Group Australia and Isobar Good, the social impact arm of the business, of which he will still have a role in.
Check out our podcast with Spilva here.
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