PUBLICIS TAKES BACK NAME, MERGES TWO MEDIA DIVISIONS
By Adnews Staff
Publicis Canada of Montreal has merged the media operations of Publicis*BCP and Publicis*SMW and formed a separate media buying agency. It addition, it has reclaimed its Optimedia brand name . The media company will be known as Optimedia Canada of Toronto. The move will let the ad agencies use all the tools developed by Optimedia in Europe and Asia. The Optimedia name is a worldwide trademark of Publicis. Until now, the company was letting FCB Canada's media operation use the name. FCB will now operate its media unit under the name TN Media. Sunnie Boot will head up Optimedia Canada as president. Formerly she held the same position at FCB's media unit. Debby King will be senior vice-president and managing director of the Toronto office. Most recently she held the same post with FCB's media unit. Pierre Arther has been named senior vice-president and managing director of Optimedia Canada. Previously he headed up Publicis*BCP's media operations in Montreal. Publicis Canada bought a 75% stake in SMW Advertising of Toronto earlier this year, changing the name to Publicis SMW. The agency was merged with Publicis*BCP of Toronto.