The chief executive of Manchester digital agency Candidsky has quit less than a year after being promoted to the role and now saying he is pursuing legal action relating to his departure.
David Vernon confirmed he has resigned as CEO with immediate effect after seven years at the business, saying the “conduct and environment” within the company in recent months meant it was no longer possible for him to continue.
He told Prolific North: “I can confirm that I have resigned my position as CEO of Candidsky, effective Monday. I’m immensely proud of the seven years I spent building the business and the results the team achieved during my tenure.
“While I have seen some inaccurate narratives suggesting otherwise, my departure was a decision I took to prioritise my professional standards and integrity. As there are ongoing legal proceedings regarding my exit, I’m sure you’ll understand that I cannot comment on the specifics or the circumstances at this stage. I’m looking forward to a bit of a break before I announce my next chapter.”
Candidsky confirmed his departure in a statement from incoming Chief Operating Officer Buddhika Amis, who was appointed following the CEO’s departure this week.
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Amis has previously worked at Reuters, Pearson, Direct Line, Visa, HSBC. According to LinkedIn, her most recent experience was as CMO Consultant at Dragon Street.
In a statement to Prolific North, she said: “David played an important role in the agency’s development, helping to establish Candidsky’s reputation for strategic digital marketing and supporting the growth of both the team and client portfolio. We thank him for his contribution and wish him every success in his future ventures.
“Following David’s departure, I recently joined Candidsky as Chief Operating Officer, bringing experience in digital marketing, brand strategy and growth from client-side roles at organisations including Reuters, Pearson, HSBC and Visa. I will work with the senior team to support the agency’s continued development and ensure we maintain our focus on delivering high-quality work for our clients.
“The business continues to operate normally; the leadership team is overseeing day-to-day operations while we develop the agency’s longer-term strategy.”
Vernon had first announced his departure in a post on LinkedIn earlier this week, writing: “It is with a heavy heart that I announce I have stepped down as CEO of Candidsky. Over the past seven years, we have achieved so much together. I am deeply grateful for the relationships built, the challenges overcome, and the many lessons learned along the way.
“My sincerest thanks go to my team for their unwavering dedication and hard work – it has been an honor leading you. While this chapter has come to an end, I am looking forward with optimism to my next chapter and the new opportunities ahead.”
His departure comes after an impressive rise through the ranks at the award-winning Manchester agency. He first joined Candidsky in 2019 as a senior account manager, working on campaigns for clients including Yamaha Music Europe, PGL and brands under the Citation Group.
He was later promoted to account director and then operations director before becoming managing director in April 2025. Just months later, the agency confirmed he would step up to chief executive officer, effective from July 2025.
At the time of the appointment last summer, Vernon described the promotion as a major milestone for both him and the business.
During his time in leadership, Vernon played a central role in shaping the agency’s strategic direction, helping scale its service offering and drive growth across its SEO, paid media and digital PR capabilities.
His promotion to CEO came shortly after Candidsky became part of 5 Villages Group, which the agency described as a move that would support its ambitions to become “the best search and creative agency in the North.”
Industry peers and colleagues have been quick to offer their support following the announcement. Senior SEO executive Jake Edwards commented: “All the best David, it’s been great working with you for the past few years!”
Meanwhile Candidsky’s director of SEO Sara K. wrote: “It’s fine, I’m fine, it’s okay 😭”.
Candidsky says it has have not received any legal documentation and therefore cannot comment on Vernon’s claims of legal action. Further details about Vernon’s next move have not yet been announced.
