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Interpublic Group is disbanding Interpublic Media - the unit that has overseen Initiative, Universal McCann and Magna Global - as the division’s CEO, Mark Rosenthal, prepares to step down.
A new body called the Interpublic Media Council will oversee media operations instead of the more formally structured Interpublic Media, writes Adweek. Phillippe Krakowsky, evp, strategy and corporate relations will oversee the Media Council. He will be joined by: Bill Cella, vice chairman of DraftFCB; McCann Worldgroup chairman John Dooner; UM global CEO Nick Brien; Initiative global CEO Alec Gerster; and IPG evp, strategy and network operations, Steve Gatfield.
Initiative and Universal McCann will be once again aligned with IPG creative shops. Universal McCann will be re-linked with McCann Worldgroup, and Initiative will be aligned with DraftFCB.
This could result in a potential pitfall in that while Initiative is part of DraftFCB and UM is part of McCann, all four company heads retain their executive autonomy.
“If I were a pessimist, I would point out that this could be like putting four big dogs in a room without a muzzle,” Arthur Anderson, co-founder of Morgan Anderson Consulting, is quoted as saying in MediaPost. “But I’m usually an optimist, so let’s say that this will ultimately work out to serve the client better.”
A different entity, called the Futures Marketing Group, will manage IPG’s specialty and digital practices, along with new-media investments such as its recent partnership with Facebook. The Group will report to the Interpublic Media Council.
Interpublic Media will ramp down by the end of the month. Some staffers will transfer to other IPG units and a small number will be let go.
IPG CEO Michael Roth was reportedly not happy with Rosenthal, who took over the job of Interpublic Media CEO in mid-2005. Rosenthal took a medical leave of absence over the summer. He will stay on for a transitional period before moving on.
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