Strategic planning director Subhendu Mukherjee, who has been with the agency for five years, will succeed him as MD in November.
Estavillo calls time on a six-year career at JWT KL, three as MD and three as client service director. "I feel that now is the right time to leave. A solid succession plan is in place. Subhendu is part of the dream team who helped me create the agency culture," he said.
Estavillo joins DDB International at a difficult time for the agency, often regarded as the poor cousin of Naga DDB. Chief executive Florence Loh is believed to be leaving, and it is unclear whether she has a job to go to.
"My brief for DDBI is simple: fix it and make it big. The challenge is to make DDBI live up to the brand equity of the DDB network," he added.
Estavillo, who is an influential member of the 4As, came to Malaysia 14 years ago from the Philippines with FCB.
