VivaKi made separate business unit as Publicis Groupe seeks digital acceleration

VivaKi was launched in 2008 with the aim of boosting the digital transformation of Publicis Groupe. It was created through the combined leadership of Digitas, Starcom MediaVest Group, Zenith Optimedia and later Razorfish.

But it will now be transformed from a platform of collaboration between the four agencies to a separate business unit that will be opened to all Publicis Groupe agencies and the market.

Maurice Lévy, chairman and CEO of Publicis Groupe, said the move was part of the group’s digital acceleration drive.

“…The VivaKi leadership has developed a plan to open up the VivaKi operations, creating a new impetus for further innovations and more aggressive growth for all Publicis Groupe agencies,” he said.

The four founding agencies will now leverage VivaKi in new ways as they continue to enhance their own propositions, added Jack Klues, CEO of VivaKi.

As part of the changes, Publicis veteran Klues will retire as CEO of Vivaki after 35 years with the group.

Lévy said Klues will help set VivaKi on its new course before mapping his retirement at the end of 2012. He is set to remain with Publicis Groupe through the first half of 2013 to help establish VivaKi as a separate business unit.