Young & Rubicam is to merge the leadership of its Asia Pacific ad network Dentsu Young & Rubicam with that of Wunderman (still known as Impiric in the area), its integrated marketing services unit.
Y&R said the partnership between ad and direct marketing shops would “optimize the ability to deliver integrated solutions to clients in the region.” The two networks have combined annual billings of nearly $2 billion.
Co-chairing the allied networks will be Yasuo Yoshitome (co-chairman of DY&R Asia in Tokyo) and Arun Nanda (chairman of Bombay’s Rediffusion DY&R). Wolfgang Haf and Peter Steigrad – chairmen of, respectively, Wunderman Asia and DY&R Asia Pacific (both in Singapore) – will remain in charge of their agencies, reporting to the new management structure.
Commented Y&R’s chairman/ceo Mike Dolan: “DY&R and Wunderman have a long history of working together in the region, and they share many key clients. By driving integration from the very top of our management structure, we will both simplify and amplify our collaborative efforts.”
DY&R, as its name suggests, is a joint venture with Japan’s Dentsu, and has 33 offices in thirteen countries across the region. The equity structure of both networks will remain unchanged by the reorganisation.
News source: AdAge Global
