EXHIBIT 99.2
[PUBLICIS GROUPE LOGO]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRESS RELEASE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PARIS, NOVEMBER 2, 2006
NEW MANAGEMENT AT PUBLICIS WORLDWIDE NETWORK IN FRANCE
AND AT PUBLICIS CONSEIL AGENCY
PHILIPPE LENTSCHENER -- CHAIRMAN & CEO OF THE PUBLICIS NETWORK IN FRANCE
ARTHUR SADOUN -- CHAIRMAN & CEO OF PUBLICIS CONSEIL
VALERIE HENAFF -- MANAGING DIRECTOR OF PUBLICIS CONSEIL,
IN CHARGE OF STRATEGY AND DEVELOPMENT
Maurice Levy, Chairman of the Publicis Groupe Management Board commented: "ALONG
WITH OLIVIER FLEUROT, EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLICIS NETWORK, AND RICHARD
PINDER, THE NETWORK'S CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, WHO BOTH JOINED US TWO WEEKS AGO,
WE HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY PRESENTED BY RECENT CHANGES TO
COMPLETELY RETHINK THE ORGANIZATION OF THE PUBLICIS NETWORK IN FRANCE AND THE
ROLE OF OUR FLAGSHIP AGENCY PUBLICIS CONSEIL. THE RAPID SHIFTS IN THE
COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING INDUSTRY CALL FOR SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE WAY WE
OPERATE: ADVERTISERS EXPECT MORE AND MORE FROM THEIR AGENCIES IN TERMS OF
INVENTION, BOLDNESS AND TRULY HOLISTIC CREATIVITY. THEY ARE ALSO DEMANDING FEWER
STRUCTURES AND LESS BUREAUCRACY. AT THE SAME TIME, THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION MEANS
THAT ONLY INNOVATIVE, FLEXIBLE AND HIGHLY RESPONSIVE THINKING AND ORGANIZATION
WILL ENABLE US TO REINVENT THE BUSINESSES OF COMMUNICATION AND TAKE OUR PLACE AT
THE VANGUARD OF SHAPING THE TRENDS OF THE FUTURE. TO ENSURE WE MEET THESE
CHALLENGES, WE NEEDED TO ASSEMBLE A STRONG AND UNMATCHED LEADERSHIP TEAM."
o Philippe Lentschener, 49, currently Vice President of Saatchi &
Saatchi Europe and Chairman & CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi France is
taking up the newly created position of Chairman & CEO of the Publicis
network in France. His international experience and his achievements
with Saatchi & Saatchi demonstrate his capacity for highly effective
management of business development, and show that he has all the
skills and the character needed to lead the Publicis network to
success in the pursuit of the ambitious goals assigned to it.
Among these goals, a priority for Philippe Lentschener will be
creating a renewed momentum to further enhance the impact of holistic
communications on behalf of the network's clients. Philippe
Lentschener will also focus on expanding development of the business.
He will be a member of the Publicis network Executive Committee
(COMEX) and report to Richard Pinder, COO.
Page 1 of 3
o Arthur Sadoun, 35, currently Chairman & CEO of TBWA-Paris, Tequila,
Agency.com is joining Publicis as Chairman & CEO of Publicis Conseil.
After founding his own agency in Chile, Arthur Sadoun joined TBWA in
1999, going on to become Managing Partner in 2001 then Chief Executive
Officer of TBWA Paris in 2003. Under his leadership TBWA Paris was
named Agency of the Year at the Cannes International Advertising
Festival in each of the past four years, a feat without precedent in
the Festival's history, and the business has shown double-digit
growth.
Publicis Conseil is the network's flagship agency, founded by Marcel
Bleustein-Blanchet and the structure at the origin of the Groupe.
Arthur Sadoun's task will be to renew its brilliance and strengthen
its talent base to ensure future growth. He will preside over the
agency's Operational Committee and report to Philippe Lentschener.
o Olivier Altmann, 42, currently Publicis Conseil's Co-Chairman in
charge of Creation, will work in close liaison with Arthur Sadoun.
Olivier Altmann initiated a process of creative renewal when he joined
the agency in March 2004 and he will be continuing this with all the
energy and talent that he has so richly demonstrated.
o Valerie Henaff, 42, head of strategic planning at TBWA-Paris, Tequila,
Agency.com since 2004, is joining Publicis Conseil as Managing
Director in charge of Strategy and Development. She began her career
in strategic planning with Callegari-Berville, where she worked for
seven years before moving on to join BDDP as Director of Strategic
Planning in 1996. In 1998, she and Olivier Altmann set up BBDP & Fils,
where she became Co-President before joining TBWA. She will reinforce
the strategic insight of the agency. Valerie Henaff will play a
critical role in guiding the strategy of the agency.
Arthur Sadoun, Olivier Altmann and Valerie Henaff together make up a committed
and highly motivated team with the enthusiasm, ambition and determination to win
the support of both the agency's staff and its clients. They are totally focused
on making Publicis Conseil into a new kind of agency, capable of generating
effective and unexpected campaigns to make our clients win. In so doing, they
will ensure the agency's future growth.
The Publicis network in France, the second largest in the worldwide network with
a staff of over 1,000, will be headed by Philippe Lentschener. Alongside
Publicis Conseil, it comprises Publicis Dialog, Publicis Constellation (formerly
Publicis Regions, present in 18 cities in France), Publicis Et Nous, Publicis
Net and Loeb et Associes.
Page 2 of 3
Regarding the Marcel agency, Maurice Levy, together with Olivier Fleurot and
Richard Pinder, will be taking the time needed to consider the best solutions
for both the agency's clients and its staff.
Olivier Fleurot and Richard Pinder commented: "WE ARE THRILLED TO WELCOME THIS
TERRIFIC TEAM. WE ARE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT THEY WILL BRING THE VERY BEST TO
PUBLICIS CLIENTS IN FRANCE, BACKED BY THE MANY AND WONDERFUL TALENTS WHO DAY IN
AND DAY OUT BRING PRESTIGE TO THIS FABLED AGENCY OF THE CHAMPS-ELYSEES. A NEW
AND PROMISING CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY OF PUBLICIS OPENS TODAY - ONE DESIGNED TO
MAKE OUR CLIENTS WIN. THAT IS OUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS."
PUBLICIS
As the founding pilar of Publicis Groupe, Publicis is the largest network within
the organization. With over 8,900 employees in 251 offices across 82 countries,
Publicis is the largest agency in Europe and the sixth largest in the world. Its
unique approach: La Holistique Difference. This entails having a large palette
of skills and expertise to address all of a client's communication needs. French
by origin, European by essence, Publicis prides itself on its unmatched
understanding of multicultural challenges.
PUBLICIS GROUPE (Euronext Paris: FR0000130577 and member of the CAC40 Index -
NYSE: PUB) is the world's fourth largest communications group, as well as
world's second largest media counsel and buying group. Its activities span 104
countries on five continents, and employs approximately 40,000 professionals.
The Groupe's communication activities cover advertising, through three
autonomous global advertising networks: Leo Burnett, Publicis, Saatchi &
Saatchi, as well as through its two multi-hub networks Fallon Worldwide and
49%-owned Bartle Bogle Hegarty; media consultancy and buying through two
worldwide networks ZenithOptimedia and Starcom MediaVest Group; and marketing
services and specialized communications including direct marketing, public
relations, corporate and financial communications, event communications,
multicultural and healthcare communications. Web sites: WWW.PUBLICISGROUPE.COM
and WWW.FINANCE.PUBLICISGROUPE.COM
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PUBLICIS
Jean Marzloff, Network Director : +33 (0)1 44 43 71 93
PUBLICIS CONSEIL
Laurence Rey, Communication : + 33 (0)1 44 43 70 10
PUBLICIS GROUPE
Eve Magnant, Corporate Communications : +33 (0)1 44 43 77 70
Pierre Benaich, Investor Relations : +33 (0)1 44 43 65 00
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 3 of 3