Slade quits Pulse Group as Passion fades

Philip Slade, one of the below-the-line industry’s most high-profile creatives, has left Pulse Group six months after it bought his start-up Passion.

Slade, one of the founders of Hicklin Slade, set up Passion last year and worked with clients including Direct Line, before the agency was bought by Pulse in March this year.

He says he is leaving by mutual consent and that he is "considering his options" following at least two job offers. "I’m torn between staying in integrated marketing and moving towards branding agencies," he adds.

Pulse "changed a huge amount" after its merger with Passion, according to Slade, but he says "that was as much change as Pulse wanted".

He adds of Passion: "It wasn’t anywhere near as successful as I wanted it to be and I was immensely frustrated by the lack of movement."

Slade, who left Hicklin Slade in 2004 following a disagreement with board members over its future direction, is currently working for a branding agency as a consultant on a London 2012 project.