Ritchie quits Octagon following restructure

Alasdair Ritchie, the president of IPG-owned Octagon Marketing, is to leave the company, following a shake-up of its operating regions.

Octagon has moved its head office from London to New York in the US, and has realigned the company from four operating groups to three regional divisions. As a result, Octagon Marketing has been scrapped as a separate division and Ritchie has decided to leave the company.

Ritchie, who is in New York finalising his leaving arrangements, says he was offered a US-based role, but declined.

He is the second senior executive to leave since the restructuring began. Octagon Worldwide managing director Matthew Wheeler left the company last year (MW December 20, 2001).

Ritchie says he will leave the company in “the next few weeks”. Ritchie, who is 55, has no plans for retirement and says he hopes to do “one more big job” in the business. Before joining Octagon, Ritchie was senior vice-president of worldwide operations for TBWA.

Three regional directors have now been appointed: Phil de Picciotto for the Americas; Karl Bistany for Europe, Africa and Australia, and Tim Moufarrige for Middle East and Asia.

Octagon says the new structure will create a clearer distinction between consulting, event management and sponsorship sales.