Following its failed merger with the US based Omnicom earlier this year, Publicis Group announced a shake-up of its management on Tuesday, letting go of its chief operating officer whilst making preparations for the departure of chairman Maurice Levy.
In a statement, the company said COO Jean-Yves Naouri was leaving the board to be replaced by Anne-Gabrielle Heilbronner, who joined the company in April 2012.
Extending his term, Levy will now stay on long enough to approve the company’s financial statements for the 2016 fiscal year before stepping down at the spring 2017 shareholders meeting. The 72 year old had previously said he would have a successor ready to replace him by the end of 2014.
The group also announced an internal management reshuffle that will see the addition of Laura Desmond, CEO of Starcom MediaVest Group, Steve King, CEO of ZenithOptimedia, Arthur Sadoun, CEO of Publicis Worldwide and Rishad Tobaccowala, chief strategist of Publicis, to the board of directors.
In a statement, the company said: “These initiatives will lead the way for a new generation at the helm of the group. Its mission will be the seamless implementation of the changes required to optimise the use of group resources and its transformation into a hybrid company of the new era: an alchemy of talents offering advertisers the strategic, creative and technological solutions they need to progress, both in terms of image and of growth, in a world of constant upheaval generated by technological innovations.”
Other announcements include the appointment of Kevin Roberts, CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide, as executive chairman of Saatchi & Saatchi/Fallon. Roberts will also takes on the role of head coach of Publicis Group, with the task of “inspiring and motivating the group’s top leaders”.
Frank Voris, CEO of VivaKi, is promoted to CEO of Re:sources and will have overall responsibility for the Group’s shared service centers and internal IT.
