Final PHD co-founder goes to MCBD as partner

PHD co-founder Jonathan Durden has quit the agency to join Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy as a partner. Durden is the final founding partner to leave PHD following the departure last year of David Pattison and Nick Horswell in 2001.

The former PHD president has been briefed to help the agency on new-business pitches and to advise on acquisition strategy and growing the business. He will also work alongside joint planning directors Giles Hedger and Andy Nairn.

Durden’s departure marks a period of change for the Omnicom-owned agency. Late last year worldwide chief executive Pattison quit to join i-level holding company ILG Digital while former chairman Tess Alps left to take the chief executive role at television marketing body Thinkbox.

Durden was, alongside Pattison, the joint media director of WCRS before launching PHD in 1989. The agency was sold to Omnicom for £12m in 1996.