Jon Slatkin leaves Titan Outdoor

JCDecaux completed the purchase of rival Titan Outdoor in January, after a management buyout led by Slatkin failed to raise the financial backing to ensure the independent future of the company.

Last Friday was Slatkin's final day at work and he is understood to be spending time with his family before pursuing other opportunities.

Titan Outdoor entered the UK market in March 2006 and Slatkin started with the company as a member of management consultancy, Alix Partners. He replaced former chief executive, David Pugh, in November 2006.

Titan Outdoor had been in talks with a number of parties since last autumn, when it emerged that parent company TO Holdings was struggling to repay its significant global bank debt.

JCDecaux emerged as the preferred bidder with a materially higher offer, and the deal was structured as a pre-packaged sale out of administration on 18 January, after Titan formally entered into administration earlier that day.

The acquisition consolidated French-owned JCDecaux's lead in the UK out-of-home advertising industry. WPP out-of-home agency Kinetic estimates JCDecaux has about 29% of the market.

Under the terms of the deal, JCDecaux took over the majority of Titan Outdoor's UK advertising inventory, broadening its transport media portfolio with the addition of rail sites, and strengthening its retail and mall offering.

JCDecaux is undergoing reorganisation, which is expected to take several months, as it integrates the two businesses.