DY&R merges with Impiric to bolster co-ordination

<p>SINGAPORE: Young & Rubicam is integrating the leadership of DY&R </p><p>and Impiric in the Asia-Pacific region in a bid to increase its </p><p>competitive advantage by offering integrated solutions to clients. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Arun Nanda, chairman of Rediffusion DY&R in India, and Yasuo Yoshitome, </p><p>co-chairman of DY&R Asia, have been named co-chairmen of the new </p><p>entity. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Nanda said that the time had come for the two agencies to work in a more </p><p>co-ordinated fashion above and below- the-line. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"It's a total communications issue; which arm of the octopus are we </p><p>going to recommend - DM, internet, television, print, PR or a </p><p>combination of these - to deliver the most-effective solutions to our </p><p>clients," said Nanda. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Details of how the two WPP networks would be integrated have yet to be </p><p>announced, however, Nanda said that there weren't any plans for </p><p>redundancies. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"We want to keep all the people but we must make sure that we go out </p><p>there and gain new business." </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Peter Steigrad, chairman of DY&R Asia-Pacific, and Wolfgang Haf, </p><p>chairman of Impiric Asia, will both continue as heads of their </p><p>respective agencies, but they will now report to the integrated regional </p><p>operation. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Singapore will remain the Asia headquarters, but Nanda will continue to </p><p>be based in Mumbai. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>