Publicis Groupe has confirmed that global agencies MS&L Worldwide, Publicis Consultants Worldwide, JKL, Winner & Associates, TMG Strategies, PBJS, Relay, Capital MS&L, Hanmer MS&L, Carré Noir, SAS, Masius, and Publicis Events will all be included in the MS&L family group. Additionally, "other key assets of Publicis Groupe can be leveraged as needed" to assist clients' needs, referring to PublicisLive, Publicis Meetings, Emotion, Freud and Kekst and Company.
The umbrella group will be headed by CEO of the MS&L Group Olivier Fleurot (pictured), who was appointed into his position from his role as CEO of Publicis. According to a source, Fleurot was appointed to oversee MS&L and Publicis Consultants Worldwide after the global heads of the agencies, Mark Hass at MS&L and Eric Giuily at Publicis Consultants Worldwide, departed earlier this year.
Fleurot, who formerly held the post of chief executive for the Financial Times Group, was additionally charged with heading up Publicis Groupe’s Public Relations and Corporate Communications group (PRCC) after chairman emeritus Lou Capozzi stepped down. According to a source, PRCC was modeled to effectively be Publicis Groupe’s umbrella PR brand, but because “that was never a term used by the media or by anyone” Publicis Groupe is effectively rebranding PRCC under the more established and recogisable MS&L.
Fleurot will appoint regional presidents to oversee its worldwide operations, including Glenn Osaki in Asia, Jim Tsokanos in North and South America and Anders Kempe in Europe.
Osaki is currently MS&L Asia’s president, managing offices in Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul and Tokyo and Hanmer MS&L in India. He also manages partnerships with 20 agency affiliates and partner firms in 14 countries in the region.
According to Publicis Groupe, 2,500 employees from 20 agencies in 50 countries are expected to be situated under the MS&L umbrella group, raking in between US$400 million to $450 million in revenue, Westnern reports project.
“By sharing best practices and knowledge across regions, we provide clients with a seamless and consistent approach and help them to manage their most pressing business and communications needs," Fleurot said in a release. "In a fast-changing world undergoing unprecedented transformation, our clients are looking for an organization that provides both global scale and specialized services. Our network, under one brand, one leadership team, and a common purpose, will be able to meet the challenge."
