After a decade at TBWA\Manchester, executive creative director Richard Sharp will leave the agency at the end of March to 'explore other interests'.

Sharp's departure was announced by TBWA\ today, and closely follows the exit of the agency’s other executive creative director, Mick Foden, who left in January.

It is understood that Sharp's successor has already been appointed but the agency would not reveal who that is at the time of writing. It has, however, been rumoured that Steve Dixon, the former executive creative director of Propaganda, is lined up for a lead creative role.

Fergus McCallum, CEO, TBWA\Manchester, said: “As we move into the next phase in TBWA\Manchester’s development, the focus of our creative work will continue to embrace the twin disciplines of disruption and media arts. In keeping with this spirit, we will continue to look to break the conventions of the traditional agency model and I would like to thank Richard for the contribution he has made to this process over the last two years.

"[Sharp] has been instrumental in helping restructure TBWA\’s creative department and establishing the foundations for our next period of change. We wish him all the best for the future. ”

During Sharp's 10 years at the agency he also served as creative director of the TEQUILA\Manchester division.

He said of his departure: “As TBWA\ moves forward in a new direction, this became a perfect and positive opportunity for me to make a life-changing move. TBWA\ has been a hugely fulfilling and exciting part of my career and over the years I have gained experience that is second to none.

“As a creative leader with huge enthusiasm I am now looking forward to the next stage of my professional life, and aim to really put something back into the industry that has given me so much.”