After 12 years leading JWT’s Toronto creative office, Martin Shewchuk has stepped away from agency life.

Last February, Shewchuk stepped into the role of creative chairman emeritus after bringing Brent Choi on board as chief creative and integration officer. Prior to this, he held the position of EVP/ECD at the agency, picking up awards for his work at Cannes, DA&D, the One Show and more.

“I had a great run at JWT, but at age 57 it was time to transition to a new creative leader that really understands the digital landscape,” he says. “My plan in 2014 is to continue to use my 36 years of experience and storytelling skills as a director or consultant on a project basis.”

Before joining JWT, he was a director with Radke Films and CCO at Leo Burnett.

This follows last month’s announcement by Tony Pigott that he was stepping away from agency life to focus on building his not-for-profit business, BrandAid.

In an all-employee email, Susan Kim-Kirkland, president and CEO of JWT, credits Shewchuk for many of the agency’s account wins and awards, as well as discovering a then-unknown Keanu Reeves to star in a Kellogg’s commercial.

“Martin leaves us knowing his 12 years at JWT were very well spent, and we are incredibly thankful for his years of service to the agency,” she says. “On a personal note, I have to thank Martin for insisting that JWT track me down almost ten years ago and then convincing me to join the family. And of course, it was because of Martin that I was introduced to our new chief creative and integration officer, Brent Choi. And the rest as they say is history.”