It appears that Walt Barron just couldn’t stay away from McKinney as he’s rejoined the now-Cheil-owned, Durham, NC agency after just eight months. During that time, Barron worked in NOLA as VP, strategy at a shop called Peter Mayer. Now back at McKinney, Barron has assumed the title of SVP, head of account planning.

In a statement, CCO Jonathan Cude says of Barron’s return, “It’s great to have one of McKinney’s favorite alums back home. Just about everything he’s touched has been honored by some of the industry’s top award shows. He’s a vocal proponent of account planning’s role in guiding and inspiring talked-about work that makes a difference for our clients.”

Barron spent nearly seven years at McKinney the first time around, moving up from account planner to eventually, VP, group strategy director for clients including Lenovo and Nationwide. Prior to McKinney, Barron worked as an account planner at Austin agency McGarrah Jessee.