Advertising industry veteran Toby Allen, formerly the Deputy Executive Creative Director at AMV BBDO, announces his departure as the latest high-profile departure from the company.
The London creative department of The&Partnership is undergoing a significant change with the departure of Toby Allen and the promotions of Micky Tudor and Yan Elliott. Toby Allen, who has joined The&Partnership, will now lead the department, overseeing the creative output for all clients, including Argos, British Gas, Pets at Home, and Natwest.
Allen's tenure of seven years at Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO comes to an end as he takes on this new role. Meanwhile, Micky Tudor has moved within the company and is now the Chief Creative Officer, replacing the position previously held by Toby Allen. Elliott, on the other hand, has taken on a new role as Group ECD, a position that comes with some global responsibilities.
The leadership changes at The&Partnership also include Mel Arrow, who joined the company in early June 2025 as the CEO. Arrow brings strategic momentum to the table, having risen from CSO at BMB. As CEO, Arrow's role focuses on consolidating different specialist units like B2B (McCann Enterprise), brand transformation (McCann Demand), and content studios into a core advertising business. Arrow's strategic leadership aims to steer the agency's next chapter with a balance of strategy and stewardship.
De Pietri, the CCO and global creative partner, leads creative direction at a global level. Harridge, on the other hand, handles strategic duties for London’s clients, suggesting a shared leadership model underpinning both strategic and creative excellence.
This leadership structure reflects a combined focus on creative innovation and strategic stewardship to shape the agency’s future. The changes in leadership may bring about changes in the creative direction for the company, potentially affecting the work for all clients.
| Leader | Role | Responsibilities | |----------------|----------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Mel Arrow | CEO | Overseeing consolidation of units, strategic leadership, steering agency direction and growth | | De Pietri | CCO / Global Creative Partner | Leading creative direction at a global level | | Harridge | Strategic Lead | Taking on broader strategic responsibilities for the London client roster | | Toby Allen | Creative Lead | Overseeing the creative output for all clients of The&Partnership, including Argos, British Gas, Pets at Home, and Natwest | | Micky Tudor | Chief Creative Officer | Leading the creative direction within The&Partnership | | Yan Elliott | Group ECD | Taking on some global responsibilities within The&Partnership |
[1] Source: The Drum, The&Partnership appoints Mel Arrow as CEO
- The new CEO, Mel Arrow, is focusing on consolidating different units within The&Partnership, aiming to balance strategy and stewardship in shaping the agency's future, which may influence the creative direction for all clients.
- Toby Allen, the newly appointed creative lead at The&Partnership, is responsible for overseeing the creative output for key clients such as Argos, British Gas, Pets at Home, and Natwest, marking a shift in corporate financial segregation, as these clients represent significant business interests.
