Best steps down from DDB Worldwide

James Best, DDB chief people and strategic officer will retire from the network in March. It is understood that he will retain a consultancy role at the agency.

The decision, which was announced to the agency yesterday, comes just ahead of incoming chief executive Stephen Woodford joining the London agency later this month. He replaces Paul Hammersley who left the agency at the end of 2005 to launch Red Brick Road with Sir Frank Lowe.

Best became chairman of BMP DDB (now DDB London) in 1989 following the merger of BMP Davidson Pearce and DDB Needham. He was previously a director of the BMP board.

Best is one of the last survivors of BMP DDB, which was rebranded at the end of 2003. Chris Powell, the chairman of the agency, stepped down at the same time and joint chief executives Ross Barr and Chris Cowpe, who had both been with the agency for over 30 years, followed in 2004.