But the industry is intrigued over who will take over for Kassan as the face of the business, and multiple sources are expecting that some clients will walk out the door without Kassan at the helm.

ADWEEK’s sources indicated a number of CMOs will remain loyal to Kassan because of MediaLink’s executive talent and search department. After Kassan rejected a $10 million severance, he is able to create a new business and potentially take some of his clients with him. One source pointed out this would likely only be a small dent in MediaLink’s business because Kassan would lack the infrastructure to take on a meaningful number of clients, at first. 

One former MediaLink executive described Kassan as “a very kind individual” whose generosity had built the business, citing the Pfizer global advertising account appointment, which went to Publicis and IPG last year, as being a piece of business he had personally conducted. 

With no leadership announced for the business following Kassan’s departure, for the short term at least, succession is a problem for the consultancy. No obvious internal candidate is understood to be seen as being able to step up immediately, perhaps surprising considering Kassan is 73. It is clear he had no intention to retire in the short term.

In the past, Kassan has attempted to hire a global president to work with him, but one source close to the business told ADWEEK that Ascential balked at the prospect of paying a second executive wage, and so one was never hired.