INTERNATIONAL: Arnold heads new Havas ad network

<p>Havas Communications is launching a new global agency network </p><p>called Arnold Worldwide Partners. It will marry the Boston-based Arnold </p><p>Communications with the existing six agencies of the Campus Network. The </p><p>Campus name will be dropped. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The move fuels speculation about the future of Mr Robin Wight, the </p><p>chairman of WCRS and of Campus. Mr Wight, who founded WCRS two decades </p><p>ago, is understood to be seeking backers for a consultancy, preferring </p><p>to go solo rather than play second fiddle to the chief executive of the </p><p>new network, Ed Eskandarian. Mr Wight did not comment on this </p><p>speculation. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>However, it is understood that Mr Wight, 56, is already considering </p><p>names for his consultancy, one of which is believed to be "Robin Wight </p><p>and Geniuses". </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The venture could be Havas-backed or linked to a rival holding </p><p>company. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The network will comprise eight agencies across three continents, with </p><p>Boston's Arnold as its lead agency. The European agencies, including </p><p>Partners BDDH and WCRS, will include Rempen & Partners in Germany, </p><p>Devarrieuvillaret in France, Ata de Martini in Italy and La Banda in </p><p>Spain. The network will also be represented by Age in Brazil, and </p><p>Vickers & Benson in Canada. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Further acquisitions are being sought in the Far East and Australia. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>WCRS, which has suffered a stream of account losses this year, and </p><p>Partners BDDH will continue to trade as competing agencies in the </p><p>UK. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The new network has no shared clients but significant conflicting car </p><p>businesses: Arnold works with VW in the US, WCRS handles BMW in the UK </p><p>and Partners BDDH handles Mercedes-Benz. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Havas bought Snyder Communications in February this year in a US$2.1 billion deal that brought Arnold, Brann Worldwide and Partners BDDH </p><p>into its fold. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Mr Eskandarian, the chief executive of Arnold Worldwide Partners, said: </p><p>"There is a new breed of international clients searching for the highest </p><p>standards of creativity and the passion that comes from strong </p><p>entrepreneurial agencies. This is the first network that gives clients </p><p>that creativity with traditional network strength and cohesion." </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Mr Alain de Pouzilhac, the chairman and chief executive of Havas </p><p>Advertising, said: "This partnership of highly creative agencies will </p><p>fit the needs of our clients perfectly." </p><p><BR><BR> </p>