Mark Howe, Google EMEA agency sales managing director, is set to enter “semi-retirement” at the end of this year after spending 41 years in the industry.
The agency sales chief and advertising veteran wishes to retire and spend more time with his family.
Howe has said in an email shared with the media that the decision to “hang up” his boots has been “hard and emotional”.
His ad sales career has seen him hold various senior roles at Google, such as EMEA agency sales leader and country sales director. Prior to his time at the tech company, Howe worked in sales roles for Flextech, IDS and Yorkshire, Tyne Tees and Thames TV.
“It has not been a quick decision. In fact, as a number of you know, it’s been on the plan for a while now, pretty much since my wife was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma,” he said.
“Then the Covid lockdown was never a time to leave without being able to say goodbye in person but rest assured my wife is now in strong remission, so we can look positively to the future.
“Having had what I think is a long enough career in both television and Google, both of which I have loved, I hope I leave a positive legacy & some fond memories. I have made many lifelong friends and I’d like to think I’ve made a positive contribution to the businesses & the Industry I have represented.”
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Howe has proclaimed that he has learnt a lot about himself and the full spectrum of multichannel ad businesses throughout his career.
He added: “There are too many people I could thank for their friendship and support over the years, so I won’t try to name them, but hopefully you know who you are. Just so you know, I have no intention of taking on another full-time role, although I’m sure I will find it hard not to have a little involvement in the ad industry that has given me so much.”
