Publicis Forms New Media Management Board

Ad agency network Publicis Groupe has formed a new management board to oversee its media operations, including the two global networks of Starcom MediaVest Group and ZenithOptimedia.

Roger Haupt, COO of Publicis Groupe, will lead the board, which will operate under the name Publicis Groupe Media (PGM).

The board will also include Jack Klues, CEO of SMG; Steve King, CEO of ZenithOptimedia; Adrian Sayliss, global CFO of ZenithOptimedia; Frank Voris, CFO of SMG; Renetta McCann, CEO of SMG/Americas; Rich Hamilton, chief executive of ZenithOptimedia/Americas; Mark Cranmer, chief executive of SMG Europe/Middle East/Africa, and Rishad Tobaccowala, head of the SMG Next practice.

PGM is not a new company, stressed Haupt in a statement. “What PGM will not do is merge together our global networks,” he said. “We remain committed to a multiple brand strategy. The board will continue to carefully explore opportunities to streamline investments that support the core media product, including non-proprietary data acquisition and technology that is not client-specific.”

The board will also evaluate which, if any, backroom operations can be consolidated to generate efficiencies, according to a company statement.