Rutherford quits Unilever for Digitas

Unilever vice-president of global media Alan Rutherford is leaving to join Publicis Groupe-owned Digitas Global as chief executive. He will oversee the digital network’s international expansion.

Rutherford, who has been at Unilever for eight years, will be responsible for launching new offices in major markets such as Asia and South America and will report to Digitas chairman David Kenny.

Unilever is planning to replace Rutherford and will announce a successor “in due course”. Rutherford joined the consumer products giant in 1998 from Ogilvy & Mather, where he held a variety of roles including media director, head of television and European account director of Sony Playstation and Kodak. He began his career in advertising at Dorland Advertising in 1984.