Havas' decision to scrap its global Diversified Agencies Group,
home to agencies including Brann and ehsrealtime, will result in the
departure of Jean-Michel Carlo, its chairman and chief executive.
The network is looking at ways to integrate its agencies from DAG into
its Arnold, Media Planning Group and Euro RSCG divisions. Brann has been
told that it will become part of one or the other, with insiders tipping
Euro RSCG, and industry sources suggesting that Havas will merge Brann
in the UK with ehsrealtime.
However, Terry Hunt, the chairman of ehsrealtime, said: "A merger with
Brann is one of the things that has been discussed but there are
discussions going on outside the UK. The Brann thing is possible but
there are other options for us."
Carlo, a former chairman of BDDP in France, took the top job at DAG in
1997. He was also a previous chairman and chief executive of Young &
Rubicam Europe.
Havas is expected to complete discussions with agencies by next week.