Havas Media Group UK and Ireland chief executive Paul Frampton has left the company as Havas continues its Havas Village strategy and Frampton looks to new challenges.

He was promoted to the role in February 2016, having run the media side of the UK business, and has long been a prominent and vocal figure in the industry, talking especially about diversity issues and brand safety.

In his most recent piece for The Drum, Frampton advised agencies on how to move ‘out of the teen years’ and adapt to the seat at the top table.

According to a statement from Havas, it comes as part of its global integration strategy, known as Havas Villages, which moves the creative and media teams within all of the 48 locations around the world together under one P&L.

Dominique Delport, global managing director at Havas Group, said: “Saying goodbye after so many years is always filled with some sadness, but also with pride for what Paul has achieved. The results of which have been especially apparent in recent years with our strong UK development in London and Manchester, the acquisition of Target Media and our groundbreaking Havas Village at London's Kings Cross. We all wish Paul the very best and thank him for his significant contribution to the growth and success of Havas in the UK and Ireland over the last decade.”

Prior to having been CEO of Havas Media UK, Frampton had been head of clients and strategy at Havas Media Group since January 2015. He served as managing director of MPG Media Contacts UK from February 2009 to January 2013.

According to Havas, Chris Hirst, Chairman of Havas UK and CEO of Europe will continue to lead both creative and media teams, the latter of which will be led by Matt Adams, CEO of Havas Media UK and Ireland.

Hirst, added: "I'd like to thank Paul for everything he's achieved and wish him every success for the future. Matt has already demonstrated his intelligence and strong leadership capabilities both to our clients and our teams - we're very lucky to have him. I look forward to working with him for the next exciting stage of our journey."

Frampton said he would now be looking to focus on innovation and the digital economy in new projects: “After 20 years of success and growth within Havas Group this feels like the right moment for me to try something different and pursue a new direction. To have united all our brands together within one collective group has given me a great sense of achievement and lots of fond memories. I leave in the knowledge that my long-standing colleagues and friends will be led by such an inspiring team. As a passionate supporter of re-imagination, my immediate focus will be on innovation within the digital economy and spending some quality time with my eight month old son, Jack and my three fast growing teenagers.”