Michael Wall Joins as Global CEO Chairman Tony Wright Names Management Committee Steve Gatfield Moves into Part-Time Role as IPG EVP
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 25, 2009--
Interpublic Group (NYSE:IPG) Chairman and CEO Michael Roth and Lowe
Worldwide Chairman Tony Wright today announced a number of significant
developments concerning the senior management team at Lowe Worldwide.
The agency network has been experiencing significant marketplace success
and industry recognition, including being named “Comeback Agency of the
Year” by Advertising Age in 2008.
The moves relating to Lowe’s leadership will ensure continuity in 2009
and beyond. They include the appointment of Michael Wall as the agency’s
new global CEO, the formation of a management committee and the move by
Steve Gatfield, whose three-year appointment as CEO of Lowe Worldwide is
ending, into a part-time role as IPG EVP, as envisioned in his agreement
with the holding company when he took the Lowe post. Wright and Wall
will work as partners in leading Lowe, and both will report directly to
Roth. Wall was the founding partner of Fallon London in 1998, where he
helped develop Fallon into one of the industry’s most successful and
awarded agencies, and subsequently rose to lead Fallon’s international
operations.
“Under Tony and Steve’s leadership, Lowe has made great strides over the
past two years in reclaiming its place as a global creative powerhouse.
Building on the agency’s ‘High Value Ideas’ platform, they reversed
revenue declines, significantly improved profitability at the network
and won major assignments from existing and new multinational clients,”
said Mr. Roth. “Attracting a major talent like Michael Wall reflects on
the success we’ve seen at Lowe in terms of the creative and strategic
product, as well as client wins and business results. By partnering Tony
and Michael, we feel that we have the best team in place to build on
Lowe’s positive momentum and creative positioning. Together, they can
lead the agency to even greater heights,” Roth added. “When we asked
Steve to assume the CEO position at the agency, it had been his
intention to move on at the end of his three-year contract. He does so
after having played a critical leadership role in Lowe’s revitalization,
for which we are very appreciative and for which we thank him,” Roth
concluded.
“With Michael coming on board, we are confident of a smooth transition
to a new management team,” added Mr. Wright. “At Fallon, Michael not
only managed a global business, he built up a company known for its
creativity and insight. This background makes him ideally suited to
understand and flourish within the Lowe culture. What is more, with our
evolution into a company that is in the growth phase of a turnaround,
the time is also right to designate the global leadership team by means
of a formal management committee. Together, we look forward to writing
the next successful chapters of Lowe’s history.”
Prior to joining Fallon, Wall worked at Simons Palmer, a respected
creative agency that became part of TBWA, and before that at Lowe
Howard-Spink on clients like Tesco and Sony PlayStation. “My time at
Lowe was a formative part of my career and I have great belief in and
empathy for the Lowe brand,” said Mr. Wall. “I’m excited to be in
position to lead the agency as it regains its place at the top ranks of
the industry during this time of great change and opportunity. I very
much look forward to working with Tony and the senior teams at both Lowe
and IPG to take the agency forward.”
Joining Wright and Wall on the Management Committee will be: Kevin Allen
(Vice Chairman and head of business development), Matthew Bull (Chief
Creative Officer), Hugh Doherty (Chief Financial Officer), Joy Hamlyn
(Global HR Director) and Bert Moore (Chief Strategy Officer).
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, 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
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Jerry
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