What you need to know:

• DDB Chief Creative Officer Ben Welsh has announced he is departing the agency after five years.
• Welsh will exit at the end of September, with the agency expected to name a replacement soon.

DDB Australia’s Chief Creative Officer Ben Welsh has announced he will step down after five years in the role.

Welsh joined DDB in 2016 from M&C Saatchi, where he spent almost 20 years as Executive Creative Director, and then Creative Chair across Asia.

The creative boss had first worked for DDB after moving to Australia from the UK, joining its Melbourne office in 1992.

Welsh has been recognised for his award-winning work across a slew of the agency's clients including Westpac and Volkswagen, while also driving several new business wins.

“I’ve achieved everything I set out to do, thanks largely to the brilliant people I’ve had the pleasure of working with here, and there are so many things I want to do beyond," Welsh said.

“I’ve always believed in hiring people more talented than me, and then empowering them to do what they do best. I’m incredibly proud of this creative department and this agency."

Welsh will finish up at the end of September, with a replacement to be announced soon.