In an internal memo to staff we obtained today, BBDO Chairman and CCO David Lubars announced that 24-year employee and current ECD Susan Credle is leaving the agency. Credle will take the helm at Leo Burnett as Chairman and CCO, the letter explains.

Lubars' send off was one of the better ones we've seen, and was laden with compliments. After 24 years with the agency it's somewhat curious to see her move on, but Credle is a mentor to many within BBDO (we've heard) and she'll bring a lot of experience to Burnett.

"Clearly, the home of Tony the Tiger will benefit from someone who helped turn the M&M's spokescandies into pop culture icons with a place on Madison Avenue's Walk of Fame. And she was one of the key members of the agency creative teams that helped win the Cingular wireless and Lowe's accounts. On Cingular, for example, she helped raise brand awareness from zero to Nike level in less than a year — an effort later recognized when Cingular was acquired by AT&T in a deal valued at more than $50 billion. And let's not forget the award-winning work she did for AIG, Armstrong, FedEx, Pepsi, Visa and the Ad Council."

More on this to come. Leo Burnett is expected to make a formal announcement later today.

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