Bite’s global development director Paul Mackender and head of digital Dan Sands will partner with Armitage to launch the international digital marketing agency in January and will have a stake in the business as founders.
Armitage co-founded Bite in 1995 and has led the agency since 1998. He will remain on the company's board.
Recently appointed North America president Andy Cunningham will replace Armitage as CEO and the global management team is currently discussing how to fill the role she vacates, which was newly created when she joined Bite in January.
Sands role will not be directly replaced, but Jon Silk, former head of digital at Waggener Edstrom, will take on a wider digital remit across EMEA and a seat on the board of directors to build Bite’s digital strategy and expertise. Day-to-day digital stratgey in the UK will be led by Nadia Saint.
European MD Kath Pooley said: ‘Jon’s role will be to be at the forefront of Bite’s client-focused strategy and he’s going to play a key part in unifying our approach across Europe by working with our specialists to deliver bigger, better and bolder campaigns.’
Mackender will also not be replaced directly but his responsibilities will be covered by Bite's team of directors, including Silk.