Publicis.Sapient, part of Publicis Group, today announced the merger of its two tech and digital shops SapientNitro and Razorfish to form SapientRazorfish.
The newly configured Publicis.Sapient will begin fully operating in the new model effective January 2nd, 2017, although management changes announced are effective immediately.
Digital revenues, from the current 54% to the 60% by 2018
Maurice Levy, Chairman & CEO of Publicis Groupe, commented, “For the past 10 years, Publicis Groupe has been leading the way in reshaping our company to be more digital. From the acquisitions of Digitas, Razorfish, Rosetta and most recently Sapient, there is no question that we have set the pace. And when we formed Publicis.Sapient we integrated the strongest set of capabilities in digital, consulting and technology amongst any of our peer group. We are now taking this next, important step, to further integrate these formidable assets. SapientRazorfish is a powerful new entity in the marketplace uniquely combining customer experience strategy, omni channel commerce, and technology deployment to create a new breed of digital transformation partner pointed at today’s most critical client need reshaping their businesses for the future. I am confident that Alan and Chip, together with the new Publicis.Sapient structure and management in place, will continue to drive digital revenue to our goal of 60% by 2018. Further, I am thrilled to have Alan Herrick working with me on the continued progress we are making at Publicis Groupe as I consider how best to position the Groupe and configure leadership across the many dimensions inherent in steering both our clients, and the Groupe itself, to a prosperous future.”
Publicis Groupe posted 54% of its revenues coming from digital as of October 20th, 2016.
In acquiring Sapient in 2015 and forming Publicis.Sapient, in moving to solution hubs in December 2015, and in forming the Power of One approach, Publicis Groupe is taking bold steps to more powerfully integrate at the Groupe level. The move to reconfigure Publicis.Sapient is consistent with the Groupe’s recognition of the continued rate of change in the marketplace, the changing needs of its clients and the demands to be increasingly more connected.
The merger brings some management changes
Key management changes will take place once the merger is closed.
Alan Herrick will move to the role of Chairman, Publicis.Sapient, focusing on strategy and market development at the Publicis.Sapient and Publicis Groupe level. Additionally, Alan will continue to advise our clients’ CEOs and their Boards as they consider how best to undertake digital transformation efforts.
Alan Wexler and Chip Register will become Co-CEOs of Publicis.Sapient, assuming responsibility for day-to-day business operations.
Alan Wexler will assume as well the responsibility for the newly-formed SapientRazorfish as CEO, and Chip Register will continue in his role as CEO Sapient Consulting also leading a combined global practice and delivery structure, designed to better aggregate the incredible breadth of capability in industry consulting, experience and marketing, and technology and data.
Publicis.Sapient will further emphasize a regional collaboration with Nigel Vaz assuming responsibility for an integrated management team in Europe and Asia while Chip Register and Alan Wexler will co-lead North America.
Shannon Denton, currently CEO Razorfish, will assume the role of Chief Strategy Officer for SapientRazorfish and will also head global practices for Publicis.Sapient.
Image over the headline.- Respectivvely © Publicis.Sapient and © SapientRazorfish.
