D&AD boss in shock exit

D&AD has just confirmed that its chief executive Michael Hockney has left the organisation. It is not yet known why.

In a telephone statement to Design Week today, D&AD chairman Anthony Simonds-Gooding confirmed reports that Hockney left the organisation today and that he is stepping into the breach himself in the short term.

‘Michael Hockney has left D&AD today. I will be taking a closer interest in the business in the foreseeable future,’ says Simonds-Gooding.

The circumstances surrounding Hockney’s departure have yet to be revealed, but reports suggest he has been the victim of a power struggle within the organisation. An official statement was due at 4pm today.

Staff at D&AD understood that Hockney is ‘off sick still after his holiday’.