A search is underway for a new global chair of purpose for the firm.

Marion Darrieutort, Elan Edelman CEO and Edelman’s global chair of purpose, will be departing the firm to focus on new entrepreneurial projects, the agency announced Friday.

Darrieutort, who founded Elan in 2008, has led Edelman’s French operation since the two firms merged in 2014, creating Elan Edelman. Today, Elan Edelman has roughly 120 employees serving with expertise in food & beverage, technology, health, crisis, digital, corporate affairs, executive positioning and brand marketing

Edelman’s French business will be led by an interim management team made up of brand marketing managing director Amélie Aubry, integrated solutions managing director Alexandre Faure and CFO Patrick Ploncard. A search is underway for a new global chair of purpose, an Edelman spokesperson said.

“We thank Marion for her hard work, dedication and commitment to leading the business during her time with Edelman, and we wish her all the future success in her next venture,” said Ed Williams, Edelman EMEA president and CEO. “I am confident the business will continue to grow and thrive under the strong leadership of Amelie, Alexandre and Patrick whilst we look for a successor. France is a dynamic marketplace and it is our ambition to continue to expand our business across corporate and brand communications and build on the foundation that has been laid in the last few years.”

In launching Elan, Darrieutort helped to challenge the conventions of the conservative French PR market, blending expertise in corporate and marketing communications, supplemented by research and planning and expertise in influencer outreach and social media.

Darrieutort began her career at Lancome before joining France’s largest PR firm in 1998. In 2002 she moved to TBWA to become deputy director the agency’s PR division, before joining Edelman in as MD in 2006.

“I am leaving the Edelman confident in the future of the Parisian office which has seen its positions strengthened in recent years,” Darrieutort said. “I have full confidence in the team to ensure a promising future and to continue to support the agency’s clients with high standards and talent. Because I am a passionate entrepreneur, I am now focused on new projects which have been driven by the significant societal shifts the world is seeing today.”