Press Release

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 27, 2004--The Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE:IPG) today announced that it has hired Stephen Gatfield, 45, as Executive Vice President, Global Operations and Innovation. In this newly created position, Gatfield will be based in New York and will report to David Bell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Interpublic. Gatfield was most recently Chief Operating Officer of Leo Burnett Worldwide.

Gatfield's mandate at Interpublic will be twofold. He will bring his broad international experience to bear helping Interpublic's new management team plan and implement a streamlined international operating structure. He will also work with the company's operating units to develop, improve and extend new models that allow Interpublic member companies to better deliver services to clients around the world.

"We want to be the marketing services company that best anticipates and adapts to the new realities that are transforming our industry," said David Bell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Interpublic. "This requires focusing holding company and operating unit functions, particularly in international and developing markets, while at the same time providing novel thinking that delivers the best from traditional and non-traditional marketing services. Stephen has a rare mix of operational skill and talent as a practitioner that uniquely suits him for this new role."

"Stephen's career thus far speaks volumes about the power of innovative thinking," Bell continued. "He had tremendous success at Burnett, from both a creative and organizational standpoint. He brought each of the agencies he ran to new levels of creativity, notably Leo Burnett London, which won the print Grand Prix at Cannes under his tenure in the mid-1990s and has since been a creative powerhouse. At the same time, he's been able to implement new, smarter ways of doing business. Sometimes that has meant partnering agencies that had not worked together before. Other times it meant developing new operating models, including successful joint ventures. Each time, Stephen managed to do it seamlessly both from an agency and client perspective. He's a phenomenal talent and we're very pleased to welcome him to help lead the turnaround at the new Interpublic."

Gatfield joins Interpublic from Leo Burnett Worldwide where, since 2001, he had been Chief Operating Officer. He was widely lauded for leading the absorption of the former D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles into the international network of Publicis, which was accomplished with minimal client and talent attrition. He also organized the agency's European region to provide better financial and business development discipline by establishing a network of sub-regional development plans. During Gatfield's tenure as COO for all of Leo Burnett's international operations, the network was widely recognized with industry honors including Asia Pacific Network of the Year in 2002, IberoAmerica Network in 2003, Best Eastern European Network in 2003, as well as numerous agency of the year accolades. From 1997-2000, Gatfield was Regional Managing Director for the Asia Pacific region of Leo Burnett Worldwide. During this time, and largely under his stewardship, the agency added clients including Heineken, Prudential, Tiger and Wyeth.

Gatfield has also enjoyed considerable success establishing new models of doing business in the industry. He stewarded Leo Burnett through two successful joint ventures with Dentsu: Beacon, a unique offering combing Leo Burnett, D'Arcy and Saatchi in Japan with a division of Dentsu, as well as Orchard, a second Burnett agency in the vital Indian market, also developed jointly with Dentsu. In South Africa, Gatfield pioneered a radical empowerment business model with Lobedu Leo Burnett, which is now cited as one of the best examples of effective empowerment partnerships in South Africa.

A 20-year veteran of the industry, Gatfield spent nearly his entire career with the Burnett organization in the United States, United Kingdom and Asia, first in account management and later, general management roles. For three years in the mid-1980s, he served as a Planning Director for Saatchi & Saatchi London.

About Interpublic

Interpublic is one of the world's leading organizations of advertising agencies and marketing services companies. Major global brands include Draft, Foote, Cone & Belding Worldwide, Golin/Harris International, Initiative Media, Lowe & Partners Worldwide, McCann-Erickson, Universal McCann and Weber Shandwick Worldwide. Leading domestic brands include Campbell-Ewald, Deutsch and Hill Holliday.

CONTACT: General Inquiries:
Financial Relations Board
Julie Tu, 212-445-8456
or
Media:
Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.
Philippe Krakowsky, 212-399-8088
or
Analysts:
Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.
Dan Leib, 212-621-5767

SOURCE: Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.