He will be succeeded in the role by Barrie Brien, the group’s chief operating officer and chief financial officer.

Elgie established Creston PLC in 2001 by reversing his company, Synergie Consulting, into the PLC. He followed this up with the acquisition of Marketing Sciences, a market research business, while later in the year, Creston acquired the direct marketing agency The Real Adventure.

Several other marketing companies were bought in the intervening years until September 2004, when qual research agency CML was acquired, followed by the research group ICM in 2006. Creston also owns the marketing and communications businesses Nelson Bostock Communications and TMW, as well as a number of healthcare-sector focused agencies.

Elgie said: “I am immensely proud of what we have achieved since the inception of the group. We have built a group of truly excellent complementary businesses working together for our clients and in recent years the group has transformed itself into a leading player in the digital marketing industry.

“I am confident the business is positioned well for the future, particularly after Barrie and I have worked together to oversee the co-location strategy creating, centralised thriving offices from London to New York, sharing clients more than ever before. I know I will be leaving the group in the best of hands with Barrie and the executive team. I would like to thank all the incredible people and clients with whom I have worked and who have helped me build Creston into what it is today and what it will achieve in the future.”

Another long-time Creston executive, Keith Bates – the former Marketing Sciences MD who became head of Creston’s insight companies – announced his departure from the group in December.