Arun Sudhaman
May 21, 2009

Publicis PR chief mulls global network merger

PARIS - Olivier Fleurot (pictured), the new CEO of Publicis Groupe's PR division, has admitted a merger of MS&L and Publicis Consultants is possible as he seeks to boost flagging growth.

Publicis PR chief mulls global network merger
Fleurot, previously executive chairman at sister ad agency Publicis Worldwide, did not rule out the possibility that the two networks may merge.

"Merging is not always the solution, but one of the challenges is to be able to serve global clients and co-operate more to be able to achieve that.”

A precursor to this strategy may be MS&L’s integration with Publicis Consultants in Japan, under MS&L regional chief Glenn Osaki.

MS&L and Publicis Consultants currently lack global leadership. MS&L global CEO Mark Hass recently resigned his position to pursue other professional interests within the industry, while his Publicis Consultants counterpart, Eric Giuly, departed earlier this month.

“In one word, my mission is growth,” said Fleurot. “Whether organic or by acquisition, I’m sure we can grow faster in Asia.”

As part of Fleurot’s appointment, Publicis Groupe has eliminated its Specialised Agencies and Marketing Services (SAMS) unit, which previously housed its PR shops, alongside healthcare and event agencies. “This will give a lot more visibility to PR and comms,” said Fleurot.

Source:
Campaign Asia

Follow us

Top news, insights and analysis every weekday

Sign up for Campaign Bulletins

Related Articles

Just Published

9 hours ago

Creative Minds: Gian Nealega is a believer in the ...

Grit, determination, persistence and a whole lot of creativity has helped Dentsu Creative Philippines Gian Nealega shift lanes from training to be a nurse to becoming a creative leader.

11 hours ago

Women to Watch 2024: Shilpa Sinha, McCann Worldgroup

Sinha’s strategic leadership at McCann Worldgroup unites cultural insight with creative impact. She also advocates for inclusive representation across regional and global work.

12 hours ago

M&A deals continued to decline in 2024: COMVergence

Even as overall dealmaking declines, certain sectors such as ecommerce continue to be a major draw.