• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, September 12, 2023

Ascential plc, owner and operator of the Cannes Lions and other businesses relevant to the ad industry, has announced a couple of C-suite changes, including the departure of COO Paul Harrison, who is leaving the company at the end of the month.

CFO Mandy Gradden, meanwhile, has been named non-executive director of Spectris plc.

Ascential reportedly is preparing to split into two separate publicly traded companies -- one based in London, and a new one listed on a U.S. stock exchange.

No successor has been announced for Harrison, who was named Ascential COO in 2021.