Holt leaves Lambie-Nairn to go it alone

Lambie-Nairn founder and chairman Martin Lambie-Nairn has stalled plans to hand over the business to a successor after the departure, this week, of executive creative director Gary Holt.

After 15 years with the group, Holt (pictured) is leaving to set up his own consultancy, but will continue to work with Lambie-Nairn for ‘at least two days a week’, as creative director on the key O2 account.

‘I have been trying to organise someone to take over from me and Gary was my chosen prince. Now I’ll build a different model [of succession],’ says Lambie-Nairn, who returns as executive creative director.

Holt’s branding consultancy will launch with four or five freelancers, but he is aiming for a final staff of around 20.