Blue to lose Shapiro

Singapore - Blue chairman and chief strategy officer Jay Shapiro has called time on his career at the agency, one year after selling it to WPP.

Shapiro, who founded the agency nine years ago at a shop-house in Chinatown, said his decision to leave was not a reflection of his relationship with WPP, which had recently acquired his company. "I can't release contract details but I wouldn't be leaving if it cost me," he says. Shapiro, who is only 35, plans to retire and concentrate on non-profit work. "I am ready to move on to the next stage of my life which is the non-profit work my wife and I have started," he says.

Blue, which has been planning for Shapiro's retirement for some time, will now be led by CEO Kenny Powar, COO Oz Aksugur, and former XM Asia Pacific CEO Josh Sklar who recently joined as CCO. "Blue is in very capable hands," Shapiro says.

"I never dreamed Blue would turn into what it has been. What I am most proud of is how its turned from a dream, and a little entrepreneurial adventure, into being able to support over a thousand families on three different continents," he says.

Shapiro is also president for the IAB Singapore and says although he is "happy to stay involved... it's time for someone else to take it [the presidency] on." He will leave Blue in October.