David Kenny exit leaves Publicis CEO vacancy wide open
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Publicis Groupe’s David Kenny, who is managing partner for its VivaKi business, is to resign from the company at the end of the month, after turning down a position at the company’s Paris headquarters.
YouGov Insight:
Kenny was widely tipped to fill Maurice Levy’s position as chief executive of the agency group, but he did not want to relocate to Paris and so has opted to leave the company. Levy is due to retire by the end of next year.
Kenny is also stepping down from his position on the group’s management board. Jean-Michel Etienne, chief financial officer at the group, will take his place on the board and Jack Klues, chairman of Publicis Groupe Media will become the sole CEO of VivaKi.
In a statement, the company says: “The possible future evolutions for David Kenny would have implied relocating to Paris, which was not possible for family reasons. The board was keen to pay tribute to David Kenny both in his capacity as VivaKi managing partner, as well as member of the management board of PublicisGroupe. His resignation will take effect on June 30, 2010.”
Levy’s future with the agency has now been extended after the board asked him to stay on as chief executive for a longer term beyond 31 December 2011.
The group says: “Maurice Levy has agreed to oversee the transition period for as long as needed.”
Levy says: “Together with the entire management board, I want to join the supervisory board in paying tribute to David Kenny who helped us enormously in implementing our digital strategy. We did examine, with David, further steps for his career within our group. They all entailed relocating to Paris which was, for family reasons, not possible. We are parting on excellent terms and are working with David on new forms of collaboration with the group.”
He adds: “To the question put to me by the Supervisory Board, I said that I would stay on board as long as needed. I will make sure the transition happens when the time is right so that my succession takes place in the best possible conditions for the Groupe, its clients, employees and shareholders.”
