Havas China creative CEO steps down

Donald Chan (陈念端) will formally leave Havas at the end of this month, stepping down as chief executive in China, after resigning earlier this year.

Havas Greater China CEO Karl Wu and chairman Mason Lin will be jointly sharing Chan's responsibilities during the transition period.

Chan will be pursuing interests beyond advertising, and told Campaign that it will "most likely" be in the startup space. 

"It has been a very rewarding journey with advertising, but I feel it's time to explore something new," Chan said. "It will still be very much related to innovation and creativity, which have always been my passion." 

This would be similar to what Chan did for a year after leaving Leo Burnett and before joining Havas more than two years ago. During the interim he consulted for a couple of undisclosed startups, shuttling between Hong Kong and China.

Campaign has contacted Havas for comment and will update this story accordingly.