CFO steps up to become i-Level Group chief exec

I-Level Group, the parent company of digital agency i-Level, has appointed Stephen Rust (pictured) as its chief executive. He replaces David Pattison, who stepped down from the role last October and will now become non-executive chairman.

Rust joined iLG as chief financial officer last January to support the management team in advance of May’s private equity-led buyout that saw ECI Partners take a majority state in the agency group.

He says he will focus on ensuring that iLG works “ever more closely with clients to understand their needs” as well as offering the “genuinely integrated offer they are looking for”.

Rust says he will continue to work with Pattison, who replaces Bartle Bogle Hegarty co-founder John Bartle as non-executive chairman, and hopes to draw on his “enormous experience of media”.

Andrew Walmsley, co-founder and deputy chairman of iLG, says Rust’s knowledge of the business and digital experience will help ensure the group’s offering is “in line with client requirements”.

Pattison joined i-Level in 2007 to develop the group for sale. He joined six months after resigning from PHD, the media agency he co-founded and worked at for 17 years.

Prior to iLG, Rust was chief financial officer of search marketing agency IMW Group. Previous roles include managing director and chief financial officer of the London Design Festival and group commercial officer of digital agency Outrider.

He will also lead the group’s digital consultancy division, General Consultancy.