Vuki Vujasinovic has stepped down from the top job the agency he founded in 2010, handing over the reins of Sling & Stone to current global head of business James Hutchinson.

The shift is effective from January 1, 2025, with Vujasinovic planning to take a break after bootstrapping the agency and growing it to a team of more than 80.

Vujasinovic launched the agency with the positioning of Australia’s only agency dedicated to serving challenger brands and disrupters, and sold the business to UK-headquartered agency network VCCP in 2021. The team has since expanded its presence across Australia, the United States, New Zealand, and Singapore.

The agency's client portfolio spans a wide range of businesses, from startups like Leonardo.ai to scale-ups such as Monarch Tractors and large enterprises like Google Cloud.

“Growing this agency has been the absolute pinnacle of my working life. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside incredible people and an insanely exciting network of clients," said Vujasinovic. "The time is right for me to step back, spend time with family, and plan for the future. The leadership team, helmed by James, is second to none, and I know Sling & Stone’s best days are ahead of it. I’m going to be the most overenthusiastic cheerleader from the sidelines, and can’t wait to see how the agency evolves in this new chapter.”

Hutchinson, who is himself a 10-year veteran of the agency, will be taking over the role of CEO. He said: “Over the past 14 years, we’ve become the go-to communications agency for challengers and disrupters, from startups like Leonardo.ai to scale-ups like Monarch Tractors and enterprises like Google Cloud,” he said. “I have had the rare opportunity to see the growth of our agency under Vuki’s leadership up close over the past decade, and as we enter our next chapter, I’m thrilled at the opportunity to lead a world-class team and help shape the future with our clients.”