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Deutsch To Assume Management Oversight of Lowe Operations in
North America Under Leadership of Linda Sawyer
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Deutsch New York to Absorb Lowe NY Office
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Moves Further Strengthen Lowe Worldwide, Adding Dynamic U.S. Hub
Agency to Growing Global Network
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Deutsch Gains Access to Global Presence to Secure and Grow
Multinational Client Relationships
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 15, 2009--
Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) announced today that it will be aligning
its Deutsch agency with Lowe Worldwide. Deutsch will become the North
American hub of the Lowe & Partners global network, assuming management
oversight of Lowe operations in North America, including Lowe New York,
Lowe Roche Toronto and Lowe Healthcare, under the leadership of Linda
Sawyer. Deutsch NY will absorb the Lowe New York operations. Lowe Roche
and Lowe Healthcare will continue to operate without any change to their
current leadership teams and branding. Deutsch LA will also be
unaffected, continuing to run as an integrated agency, reporting to
Deutsch Inc. Going forward, Deutsch will operate under the name “Deutsch
Inc., a Lowe & Partners Company.”
“The Lowe turnaround has been an important part of the overall progress
made at IPG in recent years. The agency had made great strides in
reclaiming its place as a global creative powerhouse, it’s won major
assignments from existing and new multinational clients and, as a
result, has reversed revenue declines and significantly improved
profitability. We’ve also brought on great talent and added to the
agency’s leadership with the recent arrival of CEO Michael Wall,” said
Michael I. Roth, Interpublic’s Chairman and CEO. “Deutsch is an agency
with a great brand and strong management team, as well as a powerful
integrated model. As we looked to the future, we wanted to preserve
their unique culture and provide them with opportunities to play on a
bigger stage. The respective strengths and needs of both companies are
clearly complementary, which is what led us to consider this alignment.
By giving Deutsch the lead role in North America and access to a strong
global network, while at the same time bolstering Lowe’s standing in the
vital U.S. market, we believe we will create a more powerful offering
and accelerate our growth.”
Sawyer, who is being named North American CEO of Deutsch Inc., a Lowe &
Partners Company, indicated that “Tony Wright and I have worked closely
together to develop this innovative new model, which leverages Deutsch’s
fierce independence and strong culture, while also providing us with
access to global tentacles through the new Lowe network, which is a
stalwart global federation of creative, independent and diverse agencies
around the world. This will allow us to take our business-focused
approach to new levels and simultaneously enhance Lowe’s U.S. offering.”
Sawyer also announced that Val DiFebo, previously President of Deutsch
NY, has been named CEO of the combined Deutsch and Lowe operations in
New York. “Val’s been a key part of our success since 1992 and there is
no one better to lead a smooth transition or to maximize the
opportunities of the combined entity. I know she joins me in welcoming
Lowe NY employees and clients to our combined offices at Deutsch NY. In
addition, in recognition of their roles in taking Deutsch LA from a
local office to a major national player, with an outstanding creative
reputation and new business record, Eric Hirshberg and Mike Sheldon are
being named co-CEOs of that agency.” Donny Deutsch will remain as
Chairman of Deutsch Inc., a Lowe & Partners Company.
“Deutsch is an agency with strong brand recognition, a highly effective
integrated model and a track history of long-term success. We are very
excited to formalize the collaborative relationship that our agencies
have enjoyed for the past few years,” said Lowe Worldwide Chairman Tony
Wright. “The Lowe & Partners network that we are building is predicated
on strong local agencies servings as hubs, from which we steward the
marketing and communications needs of blue chip clients. Deutsch will
now serve as one of those hubs, which will result in significant
benefits for our existing clients and will also strengthen our ability
to attract new global clients.” Wright added that Lowe NY Chairman and
Chief Creative Officer Mark Wnek will not join Deutsch Inc., but instead
move to a Lowe Worldwide role, focused on certain key multinational
clients, while Lowe NY President Sal Taibi will become Partner, General
Manager of the new Deutsch NY.
About Interpublic
Interpublic is one of the world's leading organizations of advertising
agencies and marketing services companies. Major global brands include
Draftfcb, FutureBrand, GolinHarris International, Initiative, Jack
Morton Worldwide, Lowe Worldwide, Magna, McCann Erickson, Momentum, MRM
Worldwide, Octagon, Universal McCann and Weber Shandwick. Leading
domestic brands include Campbell-Ewald; Campbell Mithun; Carmichael
Lynch; Deutsch, a Lowe & Partners Company; Hill Holliday; Mullen; The
Martin Agency and R/GA. For more information, please visit www.interpublic.com.
Source: Interpublic Group
Interpublic Group
Philippe Krakowsky, 212-704-1328
or
Jerry
Leshne, 212-704-1439
(Analysts, Investors)