Allen, who has been with the agency for 18 years, will retain an ongoing part-time role as a consultant to a small portfolio of agencies, including TRO. He has said the move will enable him to engage in his personal passions including rugby, skiing and cycling.
The group board remains unchanged with Michael Wyrley-Birch in charge of the EMEA region, Jonathan Klingender overseeing Asia-Pacific and Keith O’Loughlin managing the global business.
Allen said: "For just over 18 years I have had the absolute pleasure of enjoying a leading position within TRO but I now feel that the time is right for me to move into a different role so that I can free myself up for a number of other things I want to squeeze into my life.
"TRO has been the best thing ever in my working life, so the act of ‘dialing down’ my involvement is not without some sadness. That said I am convinced that it is the right thing for me - and for TRO."
O’Loughlin, chairman and chief executive of TRO, added: "Rob is a well-known personality throughout our business and the UK events community. He is known for his passion for the events industry, individual commitment, and to have a genuine care for the work he does and the people he works with.
"I know him as a friend, mentor, supporter and business partner. Many people have cause to be thankful to Rob for his work with TRO and the wider industry."
Allen joined TRO in 1996 as managing director following a career in client-side advertising and consultancy. With his partners, he led he sale of TRO to global marketing group Omnicom in 2008, which led to the agency’s global expansion.
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