Saatchi & Saatch Guangzhou GM installed to lead Publicis Communications
Publicis Groupe has appointed the GM of Saatchi & Saatchi Guangzhou to lead Publicis Communications – a new unit set up to house ad agencies Saatchi & Saatchi, Leo Burnett and Publicis Worldwide – for the Southern Chinese city.
Cathryn Chen takes on the role with a brief to give Publicis Groupe creative agencies better access to other companies within the group, such as digital shop Nurun, PR agency MSL and shopping marketing agency Arc.
In response to a question from Mumbrella, the agency group confirmed that each individual agency brand will retain its own management and culture.
Chen, who joined Saatchi’s as client services director in 2012, said that she was “honoured” to be able to work with the teams of Publicis Worldwide and Leo Burnett, and her role is “to lead an ensemble – not play a solo.”
“I look forward to transforming both our clients and ourselves with a fast and efficient way of working,” she said.
The setting up of Publicis Communications in Singapore earlier this year led to the exit of the CEOs of the Leo Burnett and Saatchi & Saatchi brands in that market.
Publicis Groupe is undergoing a large-scale restructuring exercise to rationalise the company following a failed merger with rival Omnicom. The company recently reported 8.9% year on year revenue growth following the restructure, with Asia Pacific growing by 4.1%.
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