Arthur Sadoun Arthur Sadoun

Arthur Sadoun, CEO of Publicis Worldwide and head of Publicis Groupe’s creative hub Publicis Communications, has been named CEO and chairman of the French PR/ad combine, succeeding longtime leader Maurice Lévy.

Sadoun officially assumes the top executive role on June 1. Lévy, 74, will continue with the holding company as chairman of its supervisory board, an appointment contingent upon shareholders’ vote.

Sadoun, 45, joined the multinational marketing conglomerate as CEO of French agency Publicis Conseil in 2006. Three years later he was picked to head Publicis France. In 2013 Sadoun was named Publicis Worldwide CEO and joined the company’s management board. Last year, the conglom underwent a massive restructuring effort in a bid to reorganize its business and leadership model and better coordinate its agencies’ resources. As part of that initiative, Sadoun was named head of the newly minted Publicis Communications hub, overseeing creative agencies Publicis Worldwide, MSL, Nurun, Saatchi & Saatchi, BBH and Leo Burnett.

Sadoun becomes Publicis Groupe’s third top executive since its founding in 1926.

“I am extremely happy with this choice, which is the most appropriate and judicious for the future of our Groupe, and congratulate Arthur warmly,” Lévy said in a statement. “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.”

Publicis Groupe today also announced that Publicis Media head Steve King, who is also global CEO of ZenithOptimedia, would join Publicis’ management board.

Publicis Groupe is the world’s third largest communications company by revenue, with more than 77,000 employees in more than 100 countries.