Well-known industry figure Justin Spratt is taking the reins at the fast-growing Quirk digital agency founded by Rob Stokes. The former Internet Solutions executive is taking on the role six months after being appointed as managing partner of Quirk’s Johannesburg office.

Stokes, who founded Quirk in 1999 when he was still a student, is becoming CEO of Quirk’s group holding company, which includes oversight of the Quirk agencies in Cape Town, Johannesburg and London, as well as several other Quirk businesses, most notably BrandsEye and IdeaBounty.

Stokes, 31, says he will spend more time working on strategy and key client engagements alongside Mark Sherrington, who chairs the Quirk group. Also, with growing interest in London, Stokes says he will focus more on the group’s international expansion. In addition, he plans to build the education and consulting arms of the group.

As new CEO of the Quirk Agency Group, Spratt will have two regional MDs reporting to him, as well as the Clint Bryce, the chief creative officer.

Spratt previously ran the VoIP Mobile and Wi-Fi business at Internet Solutions and before that he worked for investment bank Morgan Stanley on its credit derivatives trading desk.

“Quirk has entered a period of unbridled expansion and growth, and with the boom in the digital industry in general, some strategic executive changes were in order,” says Stokes.

Other than Spratt’s appointment as the CEO of the Quirk Agency Group, Nic Ray has been named as chairman of the agency. Ray cut his teeth at Ogilvy in Cape Town before moving to Ogilvy London where he ran the Ford business for Europe. For the past three years, he’s been MD of Quirk’s London office.

Andrew Allison has been brought in as chief financial officer of the group. — Staff reporter, TechCentral