BBH UK's CEO steps down

BBH UK’s CEO, Ben Fennell, is stepping down after nearly 25 years’ service, the agency announced today.

Global CEO Neil Munn will take up the role of UK CEO in addition to his global remit, once Fennell leaves BBH at the end of this year to set up a business "that will help individuals, teams and businesses grow".

Having joined the agency as a graduate in 1994, Fennell was appointed to the board in 2000. He moved to Singapore in 2002 to become CEO BBH Asia Pacific, doubling its size and winning AdAsia's Agency of the Year two years out of four.  

Upon his return to London in March 2006, Fennell took up the role of MD before being promoted to CEO in 2008, a role he has remained in since. Under Fennell’s leadership, BBH London has been in the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For list for the last 10 years, and won Agency of the Year at the British Television Advertising Awards three times, IPA's Effectiveness Company of the Year and the Grand Prix for Effectiveness at Cannes Lions. 

The role of UK CEO will be taken by Munn alongside his remit as global CEO. As BBH’s global organisational structure moves towards 'One BBH' this transition ensures the business remains firmly on track in terms of creative momentum and client satisfaction.  Munn will take on the combined roles with the support of the global leadership team, and existing UK management team.

”Having worked for BBH for almost 25 years it’s time to set up my own business," says Fennell. "I’m passionate about growth, and in the new year I want to create a business that helps individuals, teams and businesses do just that. For now however, I’m fully focused on creating growth for BBH’s clients and on managing a seamless leadership transition at 60 Kingly Street.”

“When Ben Fennell walked into the BBH building nearly 25 years ago nobody could have anticipated the massive impact that he was going to have on our business," adds Munn. "His energy, his commitment and his agency leadership have been truly exceptional and we have been very lucky to have him in amongst the black sheep. At the end of the year he will leave with our gratitude, blessing and absolute respect, and we will move into the next phase of making our creativity central to the success of our clients’ brands”.