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Video: Sorrell talks Maurice Lévy, China
LONDON - Last year's attempts for a mega-merger of equals between Publicis Groupe and Omnicom collapsed because Maurice Lévy failed to show John Wren "sufficient respect," according to WPP's Martin Sorrell, who went on to talk about the global economy and his own retirement plans.
Publicis opens global agency Blue 449
GLOBAL - Publicis Groupe is launching a global media agency network called Blue 449, led by a restructured and rebranded Walker Media in the UK.
Publishers form programmatic alliance
GLOBAL - The Guardian has joined forces with CNN International, the Financial Times, Thomson Reuters and the Economist to launch a private marketplace for programmatic advertising called Pangaea Alliance.
Bloomberg launches business hub
Bloomberg has expanded its media footprint with the launch of a new flagship media site, Bloomberg Business, designed to broaden the financial giant's remit in the business world.
MediaCom wins global media planning business for Mars
MediaCom has won the consolidating pitch for Mars' global media planning business, spanning 80 markets.
Prism will alter attitudes towards data, warns Sorrell
CANNES - The Prism scandal, in which the UK and US governments have been found to be "legally compelling collection" of information from internet giants Google and Facebook, will change perceptions on privacy, warns Sir Martin Sorrell.
Coke promotes social causes and story-telling with Coca-Cola Journey 'magazine'
GLOBAL - The Coca-Cola Company has replaced its corporate website with what it is calling a "dynamic, digital magazine", designed to encourage interaction and showcase "universally important topics, social causes and company news".
Publicis Groupe buys LBi for US$514 million
GLOBAL - Publicis Groupe has reached an agreement to buy digital specialist LBi for US$514 million (€416m) in a deal that has "unanimous support" from the management board of LBi.
Cannes 2012: 'If Sorrell resigns over pay it would be great', says David Jones
GLOBAL - If WPP's embattled leader Sir Martin Sorrell were to leave over the shareholder revolt surrounding his near US$20 million pay packet, it would be a "brilliant" thing, according to David Jones, global chief executive of rival network Havas.
Unilever's Keith Weed: 'Marketing's at a crossroads'
LONDON - Marketing as an industry is at a crossroads, and needs to adapt to better serve a changing world defined by diminishing natural resources and an ever-expanding global population, warns Keith Weed, chief marketing officer of Unilever.
Facebook reports a 69% lift in ad revenue in 2011
GLOBAL - Facebook's advertising revenues rose 69% to hit $3.15 billion in 2011, according to accounts filed for its $5 billion initial public offering (IPO).
Unilever calls US$4.65 billion global media review
GLOBAL - Unilever has started a global review of its estimated US$4.65 billion media planning and buying business, currently handled by WPP's Mindshare in the UK.
Cannes Lions 2011 names Media Person of the Year
GLOBAL - Google's executive chairman Eric Schmidt will be presented with the Media Person of the Year Award at this year's Cannes Lions Festival.
Euro RSCG's David Jones promoted to Havas CEO
GLOBAL - David Jones has been named the new chief executive of French advertising group Havas, as Fernando Rodés steps aside after five years.
Nokia appoints new chief marketing officer amid restructure
GLOBAL - Nokia has unveiled a newly formed marketing and communications set-up and appointed Jerri DeVard to lead it as chief marketing officer.
Facebook Messages hits the right note with experts
GLOBAL - The arrival of Facebook Messages this week has been widely welcomed as a timely, one-stop shop for social communications by media and digital specialists, with one noting "it's what Google Wave should have been".
Facebook launches 'a social inbox' called Messages
GLOBAL - Facebook, the social networking site, launched Messages, 'a social inbox and seamless messaging' service last night that integrates chat, texts and email into a single, continuous thread.
Mindshare retains US$112m global Lufthansa business
GLOBAL - WPP's Mindshare has retained the estimated US$112 million (£70 million) media business for German airline Lufthansa, ending a protracted, multimarket five month pitch.
Google turns 12 years old
Google officially turned 12 years old yesterday, and to celebrate, the internet giant replaced its regular logo with an image of a cake.
BP faces 'massive task' to repair brand damage
GLOBAL - BP's group chief sales and marketing officer, Luc Bardin, has admitted that the energy company faces a 'massive task' if it is to salvage its reputation in the wake of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Facebook launches new global advertising metrics
GLOBAL - Facebook has launched a range of new advertising metrics in an attempt to better leverage the value of social context on the site and attract more advertising spend around the world.
Virgin Atlantic launches 'Your airline's either got it or it hasn't' global campaign
Virgin Atlantic has launched its first global advertising campaign in the UK with a series of bullish ads playing off the strap line 'Your airline's either got it or it hasn't'.
Facebook prepares to launch localised ad vehicle
GLOBAL - Facebook is on the verge of launching location-based software that will enable users to receive personalised information and advertising based on their current surroundings.
Facebook prepares to launch localised ad vehicle
GLOBAL - Facebook is on the verge of launching location-based software that will enable users to receive personalised information and advertising based on their current surroundings.
Havas returns to global growth in Q1 2010
GLOBAL - Havas, the marketing and communications group behind Euro RSCG and MPG, has reported "better than expected" results for the first quarter of 2010, after "strong new business wins" around the world.
US online ad spend to overtake all print and DM
GLOBAL - Spending on digital advertising in the US will overtake print for the first time this year, according to new figures.
YouTube celebrates five years, but commercial success is yet to come
GLOBAL - YouTube, the world's largest video-sharing website, finds itself at a cross-roads as it celebrates its fifth birthday this week.
Bayer consolidates $850 million global advertising business with Omnicom, WPP
GLOBAL - German pharmaceutical giant Bayer Healthcare AG has consolidated its $850 million global advertising account with Omnicom Group and WPP.
Coty to launch global review of $285 million media business
GLOBAL - Coty, the world's largest fragrance company, is preparing to launch a global review of its estimated US$285 million media planning and buying business.
Carlsberg creates longlist for $240 million global media review
GLOBAL - Carlsberg Breweries, parent to beer brands Carlsberg, Tetley and Tuborg, has started a review of its global media business.
OMD wins US$40 million Virgin Atlantic global account
GLOBAL - Virgin Atlantic has appointed Omnicom's OMD to handle its newly consolidated US$40 million global media account, ending a two-year relationship with MEC in the US.