LONDON — James Myers, group managing director of TVC Group, has left the digital, social and content specialist after 17 years to seek a new agency challenge.

Myers joined TVC as a director in 2002, when it had just eight people, and had been group MD since 2015. He helped build the agency – which was bought by media company The Economist Group in 2012 – into a global business with offices in London, New York and Hong Kong.

He told the Holmes Report: “I’ve been at TVC virtually all my career, through personal and professional milestones, and when we turned 20 last year I took the decision to take a move into the unknown and look for new challenges for myself.”

Myers, who left TVC last week, said he was planning to spend some time “having interesting conversations” before settling on his next move, but it was likely to be another agency role: “My heart lies in agency. I love client servicing, developing relationships, being innovative and the creativity of being in an agency. It’s hard to let go of a business you’ve built up, but it’s the right time to hand over to someone new to take the business into its third decade.”

The Economist’s head of sales and client services, Alexandra Delamain, has been appointed interim MD of TVC Group and is leading the search for Myers’ replacement.

She said: “We’ve been inundated with CVs from outstanding candidates and we’re looking forward to bringing a new leader on board with fresh thinking and ideas to deliver TVC’s unique blend of content-driven communications to the market.

“Our energies are focused on finding the right person to lead our talented global teams and help us embark on the next exciting chapter in the agency’s growth, ahead of TVC turning 21 later this year. We want to thank James for the important role he has played in TVC’s history – he has left a lasting legacy.”

In recent years, TVC Group has moved away from traditional PR to focus on content marketing, digital and social media. Its portfolio includes long-standing clients such as the Costa Book Awards, Virgin, Ralph Lauren and Bacardi Group.