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The agency announced that Bernardin, currently CEO Interpublic
Group of Cos.' Lowe New York, will be joining Leo Burnett as chief
executive of its flagship office Leo Burnett USA and president of
Leo Burnett Worldwide.
Burnett searched for an executive "who knows and loves this
business and who can make tough, smart decisions," Wolf has
been quoted as saying in a statement. "Tom Bernardin has all
of that, in spades."
Although Bernardin is coming in as the anointed heir to Wolf, he
is immediately filling in the vacancy left last October when Leo
Burnett Worldwide's president Robert (Bob) C Brennan departed. Brennan's
departure was said to be the fallout of run-ins he had with top
management at parent company Publicis Groupe, which bought Leo Burnett
in 2002. A month before Brennan quit, worldwide COO Steve Gatfield
put in his papers following the elimination of the post.
There were a number of other promotions that were announced as
well in the executive restructuring. Regional finance director for
Europe Paul Eichelman has been promoted to CFO. Eichelman replaces
Dave Winclechter, who is leaving to "pursue other interests."
MICHELLE KRISTULA-GREEN TO HEAD ASIA PACIFIC OPERATIONS
A promotion that has a direct impact to the India operations is
the elevation of regional managing director of Leo Burnett Asia
Pacific Richard Pinder to president for Europe, the Middle East
and Africa. Pinder, who will be based in London, will be handling
the responsibilities earlier managed by Gatfield.
Coming in the place of Pinder is global president and representative
director of Beacon Communications Michelle Kristula-Green. Beacon,
a partnership with Dentsu created when Leo Burnett merged with the
now defunct D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles in Japan, is being
absorbed into Leo Burnett. Kristula-Green will be based in Hong
Kong.
Leo Burnett India chairman and CEO Arvind Sharma spoke to indiantelevision.com
about the corporate changes being instituted at the global level:
"For those of us within the company, this is something we were
looking forward to as it strengthens the management structure."
"I personally will miss Richard Pinder. He was a great boss.
But I'm happy for the company," said Sharma.
CORPORATE RESTRUCTURING AT LOWE
In a related development, Lowe has announced some internal promotions
to fill the vacuum left by the departure of Bernardin.
Executive vice-president and director of client services Susan
Cantor has been named president and will take on most of the responsibilities
handled be Bernardin. The CEO's vacancy is not being filled for
the present though.
Among the other promotions that have been announced are that of
CFO Robert Laub who has been made COO, Sal Taibi taking over from
Cantor as director of client services and Ruth Ayres becoming chief
marketing officer from marketing director.
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