• by Joe Mandese , March 5, 2008

This hit MediaPost's inbox just as the AAAA media show festivities were getting underway Wednesday night: Starcom MediaVest Group/Americas chief Laura Desmond has suddenly annoucned that Dennis Donlin will leave as general manager and president of GM Planworks, effective April 1. I'm guessing that's no April Fool's joke, based on the curt statement in Desmond's announcement:

"We wish him the very best in his future endeavors."

No reason was given for the split. And no indication was given on what Donlin might be doing next. Donlin, who began his career in media in 1979 at DMB&B, is a rare creature in our industry, someone who has stuck with an organization as it evolved into Televest, then MediaVest, and into a spin-off unit dedicated to General Motors media business -- Planworks, which he has run since 2000.

"It is simply the right time for me to take stock and consider my next career move, and I want to do that while spending more quality time with my kids, the youngest of which graduates from high school next year."

According to Desmond, a transition plan is finalized and will be announced next week.