Ben Wood is leaving his role as global president at Dentsu Aegis Network search marketing agency iProspect to join Facebook in a newly-created, agency-facing role.

Wood is taking on the position of director of agencies for Facebook across the EMEA region, where it is understood he will be reporting to Facebook’s global director of agency development Patrick Harris. The social network is led in EMEA by vice president Nicola Mendelsohn.

Wood launched iProspect in the UK in 2009, and has spent much of the past decade working across Dentsu Aegis Network’s agencies, including spells at Carat and Vizeum. It is not yet known who will replace him at iProspect.

Jerry Buhlmann, chief executive of Dentsu Aegis Network, said: “Under [Wood’s] leadership iProspect has delivered on a number of levels. He has helped to grow the iProspect global network to 3,500 people across more than 50 markets today, making it one of the world’s leading digital media and performance agencies.

“On a personal level, I would like to thank [Wood] for his dedication and support and wish him all the best in his new and exciting challenge at Facebook.”

Wood added: “After 10 incredibly positive years with Dentsu Aegis Network, it is time for my next challenge. I feel privileged to have worked with some of the smartest and most creative talent in our industry and wish the iProspect team all the success for the future.”