Speculation is mounting that Stuart Mitchell could be getting back into the media agency game.
AdNews has learnt that the former deputy executive chairman of Aegis Media Pacific may be involved with the Atomic 212 agency group led by Jason Dooris and Barry O'Brien.
Mitchell, along with father Harold, ran Mitchell & Partners before the business was acquired by Aegis in 2010. Aegis then sold the business to Dentsu in 2013 after the Japanese giant made a takeover offer the previous year.
It is not clear how long any non-competes would prevent either Mitchell from running another agency, although that may not preclude some level of involvement.
Mitchell junior, who resides in Melbourne, has been spotted by senior media company executives lunching in Sydney's Walsh Bay with Atomic boss Dooris on several occasions in recent months.
Contacted by AdNews, Stuart Mitchell said such speculation was merely that. But when pressed, would neither confirm nor deny any involvement.
"I'm not saying yea or nay," he said. "I have lunch with a lot of people. We're mates. But that doesn't mean I don't want to get back into [media agency business]."
Neither would Dooris, who worked with Stuart Mitchell at MPG, Carat and at Mitchells in Melbourne, be drawn.
"I can't confirm any relationship there," Dooris said. "But I enjoyed my time working with the Mitchells and I would not be averse to doing it again."
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