Kat Thomas Exits One Green Bean

(MENAFN- PRovoke) LONDON - Kat Thomas, the founder and chief creative officer of One Green Bean, has announced she will be leaving the agency later this year.

Thomas – who was president of the PR Lions jury in Cannes in 2024 – founded One Green Bean y in Sydney in 2007 after working at Spin Communications and Cake, developing it into a multi-award-winning consultancy which was acquired by Havas in 2011. Under her leadership, it became the first Australasian PR agency to win a Cannes Lion for PR.

In 2015, she relocated to London to launch the UK business, which will celebrate its ten-year anniversary in September. One Green Bean has worked with brands including Domino's, Virgin, Tourism Australia, Reckitt, Vodafone, Sky and Hotels.

One Green Bean's Australian operations will continue to be led by the existing senior team, with Thomas staying in post for the coming months to support a seamless transition of leadership. In May, Havas named Amber Abbott as the new CEO of One Green Bean in Australia , while former W Communications MD Richard Tomkins was named as UK managing director at the end of last year.

In a LinkedIn post, Tomkins said Thomas had left“An incredible legacy” and he was“incredibly proud to be entrusted with the future of the agency.”

Abbott and Tomkins will report to James Wright, global chair of the Havas PR Network, group chief executive of Havas ANZ, and global chief executive of Havas Red.

Thomas said,“When I started One Green Bean, my mission was simple – to disrupt the traditional earned agency landscape in Australia with the delivery of culturally sharp ideas that people would talk about. 18 years later, I'm so proud of what we've built: an agency that's consistently delivered for many of the world's biggest brands, all powered by the exceptional, energetic teams in both Sydney and London.

“It's been an immensely hard decision. But with our talent in both businesses firing on all cylinders and a roster of clients who are utterly brilliant people and partners, it feels like the right time for me to pass the baton into some very capable hands.

“I'm deeply grateful to my colleagues in London and Sydney - past and present - for standing alongside me for the best 18 years of my life. I depart with total confidence in the management team on both continents. I close with a sincere thank you to Havas for the partnership and belief in what we set out to build together. I will miss everyone enormously.”

Mark Whelan, Havas UK chairman and group chief creative officer, added:“In One Green Bean, Kat has built something very special – and leaves behind an agency and legacy to be proud of. I'd like to thank her for her hard work, comradery and occasional mischief over the years. She's ensured the team is excited to move forward into the agency's next chapter and I wish her all the very best for the future”.

MENAFN23072025000219011063ID1109839021