PUBLICIS TO MERGE DMBB INTO OTHER UNITS
By Adnews Staff
Paris-based Publicis Group SA will merge D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles into other units within the group as a result of Publicis' merger with Bcom3 last month. Publicis agencies include Publicis Worldwide, Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide and Leo Burnett Worldwide. In the U.S. DMBB will be integrated into Publicis USA. Some accounts and staff will move to Saatchi & Saatchi. D'Arcy Detroit will be joined to Leo Burnett Worldwide. Operations outside the U.S. will be reviewed on a country-by-country situation. Susan Gianinno, currently president and chief branding officer of D'Arcy Worldwide, will become chair and CEO of Publicis Worldwide USA. Lee Garfinkel, currently president and chief creative officer of D'Arcy Worldwide, will become creative director for Publicis Worldwide. Rick Bendel, currently regional chairman for Publicis' United Kingdom and Nordic region operations, is to become chief operating officer of Publicis Worldwide.