We approach the merger with much optimism: Arvind Sharma on Omnicom - Publicis merger
In what is touted as the merger of two equals, the new entity Publicis Omnicom Group boasts of combined 2012 revenue of $22.7 bn & combined market capitalisation of $35.1 bn

The weekend was filled with news of the over $30 billion merger deal that took place between Omnicom and Publicis Groupe. In what is being positioned as a ‘merger of equals’, the new entity called ‘Publicis Omnicom Group’ includes brands BBDO, Saatchi & Saatchi, DDB, Leo Burnett, TBWA, Razorfish, Publicis Worldwide, Fleishman-Hillard, DigitasLBi, Ketchum, StarcomMediaVest, OMD, BBH, Interbrand, MSL GROUP, RAPP, Publicis Healthcare Communications Group (PHCG), Proximity, Rosetta, CDM, ZenithOptimedia, and Goodby and Silverstein & Partners, among others.
The entity is expected to be listed on NYSE and Euronext Paris, and included in S&P 500 and CAC 40.
‘Publicis Omnicom Group’ will be jointly led by Omnicom CEO John Wren and Publicis Groupe CEO Maurice Lévy. In a joint statement on the merger, the Co-CEOs said, “For many years we have had great respect for one another as well as for the companies we each lead. This respect has grown in the past few months as we have worked to make this combination a reality. We look forward to co-leading the combined company and are excited about what our people can achieve together for our clients and our shareholders.”
Wren and Lévy will lead the company as Co-CEOs through an initial integration and development period of 30 months, following which Lévy will become Non-Executive Chairman and Wren will continue as CEO.
The company will have a single-tier board with 16 members, consisting of the two Co-CEOs and seven Non-Executive Directors from each company. For the first year following the closing of the transaction, Bruce Crawford, currently Omnicom Chairman, will be the Non-Executive Chairman of Publicis Omnicom Group. He will be succeeded by the current Publicis Groupe Chairperson, Elisabeth Badinter, as Non-Executive Chairperson for the second year following the closing of the transaction.
Omnicom media business in India has seen a steady growth in the last five years with Omnicom Media Group’s growing accounts and business under the able leadership of Jasmin Sohrabji, who was elevated to CEO, SEA and India in May this year.
Coming to the advertising side of the business – which includes BBDO, DDB Group, and TBWA – DDB group has been consistent with new business wins, while BBDO has been a little quiet this year. TBWA has been in the news for a slew of new appointments (Parixit (Bhattacharya – Group CCO and Shirin Johari – CD) and its acquisition of Magnon to strengthen its digital offering.
Publicis Groupe has been in the news for hiring of Bobby Pawar as Chief Creative Officer – South Asia and Partha Sinha as Director, Chief Strategy Officer – South Asia.
The question that now comes to fore is whether the merger will involve an element of conflict when it comes to brands handled by the different agencies under the joint entity.
“Individual agencies need to focus on their clients. Leo Burnett and Publicis may have competitive brands, but as long as confidentiality is maintained, clients will enjoy greater speciality and expertise,” commented Arvind Sharma, Chairman of India Subcontinent at Leo Burnett.
The merger is undoubtedly huge with combined 2012 revenue of $22.7 billion / €17.7 billion and combined market capitalisation of $35.1 billion / €26.5 billion, based on closing prices on July 26, 2013. It is now a merged group of more than 130,000 employees.
We look forward to see how this merger will pan out in the long-term for all agencies involved, particularly from an Indian scenario.
“In the long run, being a part of a family and community, the implications are great; you have access to expertise and specialty. In the short run, agencies need to focus on their brands and clients, and give them the best product and support. Leo Burnett is one of the most awarded agencies locally and globally, we approach the merger with much optimism,” concluded Sharma.
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E4M Our strategy is to target younger audiences through Sports: Rajiv Dubey, Dabur
The Head of Media at Dabur India spoke exclusively to exchange4media on the World Cup, associating with Indian Idol, the company’s digital spending and much more
With quirky campaigns, memes and moment marketing, timed with the ongoing World Cup and particularly the India-Pakistan matches, Dabur India has got considerable consumer attention for its popular brands – Red Paste, Cool King Hair Oil, Chyawanprash, Dabur Vita and the recently launched Bae Fresh Gel toothpaste.
The 140-year-old company is going big on key sporting events, World Television Premiere (WTP) movies and reality shows. It is now gearing up to become the title sponsor of popular talent show ‘Indian Idol’ on Sony TV for the first time, shared Rajiv Dubey, who leads the media strategy at Dabur.
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Swapan Seth's new book 'COOL' is out
The book is a reflection of the author's 'eclectic taste across categories'
Advertising professional and art collector Swapan Seth has announced the launch of his new book COOL. The book is described as "a ready reckoner to the hip and the happening, of the known and the very unknown."
The book is a reflection of the author's "eclectic taste across categories: from boltholes to exotic hideaways."
COOL has been published by Simon & Schuster India and is available on Amazon.
Seth is an ad veteran with a long and illustrious career in the industry. He became the youngest-ever Creative Director at Clarion at age 24. He was VP at 26 at Trikaya Grey. Two years later, he started his agency Equus.
He writes for publications such as The Economic Times, Hindustan Times and India Today. This is his second book and he has previously published THIS IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
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Disney Star signs 9 sponsors for Asia Cup PAK
Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up come on board
e4m Staff Disney Star has signed nine broadcast and digital streaming sponsors for the upcoming Asia Cup.
Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up have come on board for the upcoming tournament.
As reported earlier by exchange4media, Disney Star has sought Rs 26 crore for the co-presenting sponsorship on TV and Rs 30 crore for Disney+ Hotstar.
According to industry sources, the associate sponsorship on Star Sports has been priced at Rs 19.66 crore, whereas for the ‘powered by’ sponsorship on Disney+ Hotstar, the broadcaster is seeking Rs 18 crore.
As per the information available with exchange4media, Disney+ Hotstar has three sponsorship tiers-- co-presenting (Rs 30 crore), powered by (Rs 18 crore) and associate sponsorship (Rs 12 crore). The broadcaster is offering an estimated reach of 120-140 million for co-presenting sponsors, 90-100 million for powered by and 60-70 million for associate sponsorship.
A spot buy for 10 seconds has been priced at Rs 25 lakh for the India vs Pakistan matches, while for the non-India matches, the ad rate for 10 second is Rs 2.3 lakh. The India matches plus the final for ODIs has been priced at Rs 17 lakh per 10 seconds.
Asia Cup is scheduled to be held from 30 August, 2023, to September 17, 2023.
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Sorted 360 wins creative & social media mandate of Reliance Mall
The agency will manage offline and online campaigns for Reliance Mall
Sorted 360, an integrated creative and social media agency, has won the mandate to providing brand solutions for Reliance Malls across India.
“Sorted 360 is set to enhance Reliance Malls' market presence with their unparalleled creative prowess and strategic thinking,” read a press release.
“Sorted 360's commitment to pushing the boundaries of creative communication aligns perfectly with Reliance Malls' ethos. With a pan-India presence spanning across 19 cities and growing, Reliance Malls has consistently captivated customers by offering an array of Reliance brands and third-party fashion & lifestyle brands. The mall has established an unparalleled connection with its patrons through superior quality, a remarkable value proposition, and an unmatched shopping experience,” it read further.
"We are thrilled to welcome Sorted 360 as our trusted partner in advancing our brand presence across the nation," said the Head of Marketing at Relaice Malls. "Their proven expertise in retail, shopping center management, and innovative creative strategies make them the perfect fit for our vision."
"Partnering with Reliance Malls is a testament to our commitment to shaping extraordinary brand experiences," remarked Prerana Anatharam, Co-founder of Sorted 360. "We are excited to leverage our strategic and creative acumen to further elevate Reliance Malls as the epitome of convenience, choice, and excellence."
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KlugKlug onboards Hemang Mehta as Country Manager for Indias
Mehta was most recently Head of Agency Relationships at Network 18 Media & Investments
KlugKlug has appointed Hemang Mehta as its Country Manager for India.
Mehta will play a pivotal role in driving KlugKlug's growth and expansion within the Indian market and be responsible for Sales & GTM Strategy
Prior to that, he has also represented organisations like Exponential (now VDX.tv), India Today Digital and Rediff.com. His expertise spans various domains including digital media sales, mobile marketing, media planning, and buying, social media marketing, and more.
Hemang Mehta expressed his enthusiasm about joining KlugKlug, saying, "I am thrilled to be a part of KlugKlug, a forward-thinking platform that is reshaping the influencer marketing landscape. As much as I look forward to collaborating with the exuberant team at KlugKlug, I am super excited to interact with the brands to deliver powerful data-backed Influencer solutions that will guarantee business outcomes."
Commenting on the appointment, Kalyan Kumar, Co-Founder and CEO of KlugKlug, stated, "We are excited to welcome Hemang Mehta to our team as the Country Manager for India. His extensive experience in digital media sales and marketing will be instrumental in driving our efforts to provide influencer marketing solutions to our clients. We believe Hemang's leadership will be key in scaling our operations and expanding our reach within the Indian market."
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