JCDecaux's joint UK chief executives Philip Thomas and Spencer Berwin are to step down from the helm of the out of home advertising company after three years.
The pair, pictured above, will relinquish their roles at the end of March and will move to new positions as non-executive directors. Dallas Wiles, managing director of rail and retail divisions, and chief commercial officer Chris Collins have been promoted as like-for-like replacements.
Both Berwin and Thomas, who featured on The Drum's Digerati 2018 list, will report directly to company head Jean-François Decaux in their new roles.
Decaux said: “I have worked with Spencer and Philip for many years and they have been instrumental in developing and delivering our market-leading digital transformation. They have secured a fantastic platform for the future including the contract wins of Network Rail, Heathrow Airport, TfL bus shelters and more recently Westfield shopping malls. They will continue to work with the business to develop channels and partnerships as new opportunities open up in the digital and technology space.
"True to our tradition of promoting internal candidates, I am delighted to appoint Chris and Dallas to the roles of co-CEOs, promoting senior talent from within our company as we look to a new digital trading future and the build-out of our contract wins. These appointments underline the importance of both sides of our business – concession contracts and advertising sales.”
Berwin said: “JCDecaux UK is in great shape to accelerate the transformation of the industry and I know that Chris and Dallas and the rest of the JCDecaux team are ready for the challenge.”
Newly promoted Collins added: “This is an incredible time to be taking the reins as JCDecaux continues to invest and transform in a new digital future. We have great people in the team, great contracts to develop and an exciting opportunity to define the UK digital Outdoor landscape of tomorrow.”
JCDecaux boasts clients including Network Rail, where it is aiming to become the world’s first digital transport advertising environment, in addition to Westfield malls, London Heathrow airport and TfL.
Last year the company admitted that it is looking at a takeover of rival Clear Channel, as it seeks to dominate the out of home and digital out of home markets.