ZenithOptimedia Confirms Perriss To Depart
ZenithOptimedia has confirmed that John Perriss is to step down as group chief executive officer after more than fifteen years at the global media services company.
Perriss will leave the Publicis-owned company once a replacement has been found and a transition process has been completed. No fixed leaving date has been set as the terms of his departure are still being negotiated.
The news is not unexpected after Publicis took full control of ZenithOptimedia last year following WPP Group’s acquisition of Cordiant. However, the departure will come as a blow to the media network as Perriss was instrumental in the creation of its European presence and oversaw much of the merger of Zenith and Optimedia in 2001.
Maurice Lévy, chairman and CEO of Paris-based Publicis Groupe, said: “John has been instrumental in making ZenithOptimedia a global market leader and we are grateful for his remarkable commitment and service to this organisation.”
Perriss added: “The company is in great shape and has achieved very positive momentum with the support of Publicis Groupe, so I’m comfortable taking my leave in favour of a limited number of non-executive roles as well as being able to devote more time to my private interests.”
ZenithOptimedia has already identified a successor and plans to make an announcement in due course. Rich Hamilton, chief executive of ZenithOptimedia North America; Steve King, ZenithOptimedia Europe CEO; and Jack Klues, chief executive officer of Starcom MediaVest Group, are all being linked to the position.
Perriss entered the advertising industry in 1968 as a media assistant and joined Saatchi & Saatchi in 1975. He became the industry’s first worldwide media director in 1983 and then championed the formation of Zenith Media in 1988. He led the company’s entry into he continental Europe in the early 90s, the USA in 1995 and Asia in 1997 to create the world’s first global media agency.
Following Publicis Groupe’s acquisition of a 50% stake in Zenith Media in 2000, Zenith and Optimedia were brought together under single management led by Perriss in 2001 before being merged into a single media network in 2003.
ZenithOptimedia: 020 7224 8500 www.zenithoptimedia.com
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