Grace Blue loses Grant Duncan

Grant Duncan, the former Publicis London chief executive, is leaving Gay Haines’ recruitment agency Grace Blue after a year for personal reasons. He joined the consultancy last April as its fifth partner to focus on advising private equity companies on potential acquisitions and mergers in the industry.

Grace Blue was founded by Haines and her son Jay, formerly of Kendall Tarrant; Juliet Timms, formerly of Bartle Bogle Hegarty; and Kathleen Saxton, the former Virgin radio head of strategy.

Duncan resigned as Publicis chief executive early last year after an eight-year stint at the agency. He is not expected to go back to advertising.

He joined CollettDickenson Pearce in 1982 as a graduate trainee and then went to GGT, where he became managing director and following the agency’s takeover by Omnicom, became managing director of TBWA International. He joined Publicis in 1999.