One of Brighton's leading digital companies, Nixon McInnes has today announced a major shakeup, with one founder returning to the fold and another leaving for New York.

Will McInnes has been appointed as social media monitoring company Brandwatch's first global chief marketing officer, a position based in New York. He will be leaving in mid-October. 

Tom Nixon has come back to Nixon McInnes, which specialises in social media, on a day-to-day basis, and Maxwell St John has been appointed as managing director. 

Jenni Lloyd continues as director of products and services, and the company promises even more changes in the pipeline to help it evolve as a consultancy.

NixonMcInnes works with global brands such as BBC, Cisco, Barclays and World Wildlife Fund on social and digital transformation programmes.

A well-known industry speaker, Mr McInnes has appeared live on BBC News, keynoted at conferences around the world and had his opinions appear in the Financial Times, PR Week and Marketing Magazine - as well as being a regular contributor to The Argus.

Mr McInnes said: "It is time for me to do something new – to stretch my wings, to take on a new challenge, and give others the chance to do the same.

"NM has changed lots over the past 18 months, and me moving feels like the last part of a sequence, as the company moves increasingly into exciting new kinds of work with new kinds of clients.

"Looking ahead, the global scope of my new role, living and working in NYC, is hugely appealing (for a boy who still lives in his hometown), as is the opportunity to work in a product-focused environment, having spent 11 years tailoring services for clients.

"There’s also a change in scale that I am excited about. And Brandwatch shares much DNA with NixonMcInnes – both businesses are pioneers in social, both are on the WorldBlu list of most democratic companies worldwide, both are headquartered in the world class digital community in Brighton, UK. We go back.

"On a personal note, as you might expect, my wife and kids are up for it too (well, the youngest is a bit reluctant at the moment). As a family we’re at a nice, mobile, portable stage: no nappies, and at the same time no teenage relationships or big exams to worry about. As a unit, we’re excited about a new adventure. Plus, Christmas in NYC! :-)"