The successor to Maurice Levy has been chosen.

On June 1, Publicis Communications chief executive officer, Arthur Sadoun, will take up his new role as chairman and chief executive officer of Publicis Groupe. Lévy will become chairman of the holding company’s supervisory board.

Arthur Sadoun

In the Publicis statement, Elisabeth Badinter, chair of the Supervisory Board and president of the Nominating Committee, acknowledged Levy’s achievements, “The Supervisory Board and myself would like to particularly note the exceptional work accomplished under the stewardship and thanks to the personal commitment of Maurice Lévy over the last 30 years; our Groupe has profoundly transformed itself, ranked today not only as the 3rd group globally but above all as the 1st when it comes to the engine of the future: digital. It would be too long to list all of the accomplishments achieved under his direction. It suffices to say that, over this period, our headcount went from around 3,000 people to nearly 80,000; our revenue has multiplied by nearly 50 and our market capitalisation by close to 100.”

Levy acknowledged Sadoun’s potential, “It’s not just any choice, it’s a measured and well thought out choice that opens new doors for the future of our amazing Groupe. I have known Arthur for many years. We have worked very closely together. He is a seasoned professional with an inspiring vision of our industry and of our clients’ needs. He knows them well, he understands them well and he knows how to deliver the solutions and services they need to grow, develop and transform by selecting the best talent. He has the intelligence, the energy and the passion necessary to master our trade in a connected world that is changing and evolving constantly. He’s also a man with admirable human qualities.”

Maurice Levy

Sadoun will oversee the entire board and all of its umbrella organisations. Publicis Media chief executive officer, Steve King, will also join the board along with executive vice president & chief financial officer, Jean-Michel Etienne, and secretary general, Anne-Gabrielle Heilbronner.

There is likely to be little change in Publicis’ direction. That was redefined in 2015, when Publicis made this statement, “Businesses all over the world, no matter their industry, are continuously faced with the upheavals brought on by digital and the constant evolutions affecting our society, the way we work, communicate and consume. In order to better advise and serve its clients, Publicis Groupe has decided to radically modify its business model by putting the client at the heart of its organisation.

“The idea consists of reversing its current structure, built around the concept of worldwide networks, by breaking down silos in order to offer clients the Groupe’s entire know-how and expertise through the Power of One: all Publicis Groupe capabilities will be available to each of its clients – in a simple, flexible and efficient way. A bit like a smartphone: powered by sophisticated technology but very easy to use. From now on, the Groupe will gauge its performance using a new standard: client service, led for each client by a chief client officer. This person will be responsible for the entire range of services and skills the client can benefit from, no matter the discipline or the country. Whenever possible, the dedicated teams will be gathered under one roof.”

Sadoun stated, “Leading the company founded by visionary Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet and made into a global communications leader by Maurice Lévy is an immense honour and an incredible challenge. A challenge that I’ll meet with open arms, thanks to the continued contribution of Maurice’s wisdom and experience, and the support of Steve King, the Management Board and the talented individuals who make up Publicis Groupe. Thanks to each of them, I’m taking on this new role with confidence, determination and one objective in mind: accelerating our transformation and development through The Power of One to continue to make Publicis shine like Marcel and Maurice have done for the past 90 years.”