MUMBAI: Havas CEO Philippe Wahl has announced that a new international team is being formed to lead Euro RSCG Worldwide operations
David Jones is RSCG Worldwide CEO. Mercedes Erra and Stephane Fouks are Euro RSCG Worldwide executive co-chairmen. Remi Babinet is Eurp RSCG Worldwide chief creative officer. The appointments are effective immediately.
Wahl said, "Mercedes, Stephane, David and Remi respectively have helped their agencies achieve tremendous momentum. Given their commitment to excellence and dedication to their clients, it is a natural evolution for Havas to elevate them to new responsibilities and challenges. I am confident this terrific management team will together lead Euro RSCG Worldwide through a successful turnaround and beyond."
These announcements follow the resignation of Euro RSCG Worldwide chairman and James R. Heekin who will pursue other opportunities in the industry. This decision follows a mutual agreement between the two parties.
Wahl added, "Over the last two years, Jim installed the necessary groundwork to help guide Euro RSCG through a period of transition. We thank Jim for his contributions and wish him well in the future". Heekin says, "My time with Euro RSCG Worldwide has been a valuable experience. Today Euro RSCG is headed in a positive direction both
professionally as well as from a business standpoint. I am quite proud of our accomplishments, and will miss many of the talented people there."
Jones was appointed to the position of CEO for Euro RSCG Worldwide's flagship New York office in September 2004. Since joining, he has led the agency to win both the global Jaguar car business and the North American Charles Schwab account. These wins, on the back of major new business awards from Heineken, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, and Schering-Plough, have turned the agency into one of New York's hottest shops.
Stephane has been with Euro RSCG Worldwide since 1988, when he co-founded RSCG Public, a corporate communications consultancy. He served as the CEO of the company until 1995 when it merged with Euro RSCG Consultants and became Euro RSCG Institutional, where he remained CEO. In 1999 Euro RSCG Institutional and Hiex Reus Patner merged to form Euro RSCG Corporate. In
2001 he initiated a cross-working relationship between Euro RSCG Corporate and Euro RSCG Omnium, which then became Euro RSCG C&O.
The Paris headquartered Havas is a global advertising and communications services group. Havas has three principal operating divisions: Euro RSCG Worldwide which is headquartered in New York, Arnold Worldwide Partners in Boston, and Media Planning Group in Barcelona.
A multicultural and decentralised Group, Havas is present in 77 countries through its networks of agencies located in 44 countries and contractual affiliations with agencies in 33 additional countries. The group offers a broad range of communications services, including traditional advertising, direct marketing, media planning and buying, corporate
communications, sales promotion, design, human resources, sports marketing, multimedia interactive communications and public relations. Havas employs approximately 14,400 people.
