Andrew Doyle, president and part owner of the Halifax-based agency Extreme Group, has left the advertising business.
According to Paul Leblanc, Extreme’s CEO and majority owner, Doyle’s departure on Nov. 26 was a personal decision.
“He’s been wrestling hard with the industry for the last year,” Leblanc said. “He hasn’t been enjoying it, not been driven by it. He and I and Shawn [King, chief creative officer] have had lengthy conversations about it, trying to get his interest back. I think he got to the end of it and decided to get his inspiration elsewhere.”
Doyle was not available for comment, but in a press release said “It was time for a change–for Extreme Group and for myself. It’s been eight great years and I’m proud to have been a part of the company that changed the advertising industry in Atlantic Canada.”
Doyle also said he was proud to have helped the agency open a Toronto office in 2007, which currently makes up about 50% of overall revenues and is the focus of the company’s growth strategy.
“Now I’m looking forward to the challenge of finding my next passion,” he said.
Leblanc said the agency is currently weighing its options in terms of filling Doyle’s role in the company and no decision had been made as to whether internal promotion or an external search would provide the agency’s next president.
