Publicis Communications chief strategy integration officer Kate Smither has quit her role to start her own strategic consultancy, B&T can reveal.

The new venture is to be called The Tall Planner and will will partner with agencies and clients to bring strong, simple strategic solutions to their business needs.

Smither had been in the role at Publicis for 11 months. Prior to that she was chief strategy officer at Saatchi & Saatchi. She will continue in her role as co-chair at The Communication Council’s Account Planning Group (APG).

Smither revealed her new plans via a statement to B&T today. Read it in full here:

“Internationally recognised and award winning strategist, Kate Smither has left Publicis Communications after three and half years with the Groupe.

“Kate built the strategic offering of Publicis first as Chief Strategy Officer, Saatchi & Saatchi and most recently in the roll out of an integrated Publicis Communications model across the Groupe for key clients. 

“As for what’s next, Kate is excited to announce the start of her own strategic consultancy – The Tall Planner.

Smithers said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time with Publicis – working with great agency and client teams but I’ve always wondered about going out on my own. The hope is that I  get back to broader and more agile thinking. I really feel like planning thrives on objectivity, so I am looking forward to working with the industry leaders both agency and clients to fall in love with planning again and think about lots of different solutions to all kinds of problems big and small.”

“Kate continues in her role as co-chair of the APG and Effie judge and will be next seen speaking at the APG Battle of Big Thinking at VIVID.”