M&C Saatchi Regulatory News (SAA)

18 May 2005 07:00

M&C Saatchi PLC18 May 2005 M&C Saatchi plc M&C Saatchi FRANCE - stock exchange announcement 18th May 2005 M&C Saatchi plc - M&C Saatchi France announces management line up M&C Saatchi today announces the management team which will launch M&C Saatchi inParis in early September 2005. Gilles Masson, Antoine Barthuel and Daniel Fohr, are President and Co-CreativeDirectors of Leo Burnett Paris, they will join the company as founding partnersand managers of the French agency as soon as they are free to do so. The newcompany will be called M&C Saatchi GAD, bearing the initials of Gilles, Antoineand Daniel. Commenting on the announcement, Nick Hurrell, Chairman of M&C Saatchi Europesaid: "Gilles, Antoine and Daniel are a close team of creative, dynamic and ambitiousentrepreneurs. I have every confidence that they will build a great agency inFrance with us." David Kershaw, Chief Executive of M&C Saatchi plc said: "As detailed at our IPO last year, the expansion into the four major Europeanmarkets will expand our international footprint and provide us with exciting newgrowth opportunities. We are delighted that such a brilliant team have agreed tostart our agency in France." - Ends - For further information, please contact: M&C Saatchi plcNick Hurrell, Chairman, Europe+44 (0) 20 7543 4500David Kershaw, Chief Executive +44 (0) 20 7543 4500 Tulchan CommunicationsKate Inverarity/Peter Hewer+44 (0) 20 7353 4200 M&C SAATCHI BACKGROUNDM&C Saatchi is the world's largest independent advertising network, with 14offices in 10 countries. It was founded in London in 1995, and was called "the fastest growing start-upin advertising history" by Adweek. By 2004, M&C Saatchi had become London's fifth biggest agency and won 'Media andMarketing Europe' magazine's European Agency of the Year award Clients include British Airways, Dixons Group, RBS Group, Scottish & Newcastle,Central Office of Information and Qantas. The agency's founding principle is Brutal Simplicity of Thought, becausesimplicity sells. M&C Saatchi floated on the London Stock Exchange in July 2004, and will launchstart-ups in Germany, Spain and Italy before the end of 2006. GILLES MASSON, ANTOINE BARTHUEL AND DANIEL FOHRGilles Masson, Antoine Barthuel and Daniel Fohr have worked together for 5years. The trio have worked for nearly 20 years in the great French advertisingagencies: BDDP; BETC Euro RSCG and Publicis - and on some of the great brands:BNP Paribas, Renault, Canal +, Danone, Peugeot, Air France, Procter & Gamble,and BMW. They moved to Leo Burnett Paris in February 2004 and have been credited foraccelerating the revival of that office with an impressive track record of newbusiness wins. They also achieved first place in CB News Bilan d'Or 2004 for the highest ratioof creative awards per entry. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange