Carter Murray Named CEO of Draftfcb Worldwide
New York, NY - March 6, 2013 - Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) announced today that Carter Murray has been named CEO of Draftfcb Worldwide. Mr. Murray, 38, joins from Y&R, where he was President and CEO for North America and CEO, Y&R New York. He had previously served as Chief Marketing Officer and Worldwide Account Director on Nestlé, as well as a member of the Executive Committee at Publicis Worldwide. Mr. Murray began his career at Leo Burnett in Chicago and held a number of posts at that agency, including stints in Germany and the United Kingdom. He replaces Laurence Boschetto, who will remain with the agency through a transitional period and then serve as a Senior Advisor to IPG in a consulting capacity. Howard Draft will continue in his role as Executive Chairman at Draftfcb. Mr. Murray will be based in New York.
"We're very pleased to welcome Carter in this key role at an important time for Draftfcb," said Michael I. Roth, Interpublic's Chairman and CEO. "He understands consumer advertising and brands, has demonstrated the ability to motivate diverse teams and raise the quality of creative work, nurture client relationships and win global business. This combination of skills and experience in a dynamic new leader is what the agency needs in order to evolve its integrated model and drive growth." Mr. Roth added, "We thank Laurence for his contributions to our search for his successor and to the agency, including a consistent and high level of operational and financial delivery. We wish him well in his ongoing industry activity, particularly in the area of diversity and inclusion, where we will continue to work together."
"I am greatly looking forward to this opportunity. Draftfcb has outstanding people, clients and a commitment to putting together the best of brand advertising and accountable communications disciplines, such as digital, CRM and activation," said Mr. Murray. "That's a powerful promise we must make good on. When we do, the Draftfcb offer will be hard for clients to resist. Working with the strong leadership teams across the network and with Interpublic's continued support, I feel we can deliver on that vision and do something really special."
"Carter brings energy, a new perspective and range of talents that will take us to the next level," said Mr. Boschetto. "I'll do everything to help him step into the CEO role seamlessly and I know our senior teams will do so as well. I thank all of our nearly 9,000 people around the world for their support and I know the agency's best days are ahead. Moving onto the next chapter personally, in working to promote our industry and in particular to work for greater diversity among our ranks, is something to which I am very much looking forward."
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Carter Murray Background
Murray joined Y&R in 2011 and most recently served as President & CEO, North America, and CEO, Y&R New York. In this role, he oversaw the revitalization of the agency's North America operations and management teams, including a steady improvement of creative product across all clients, both local and multinational. He also served as a member of the Global Y&R Executive Committee.
Prior to Y&R Advertising, Murray spent four years at Publicis Worldwide in Paris, where he held a variety of positions. As Worldwide New Business Director, Murray successfully launched a new global positioning for the network, leading substantial new business results. Murray next served as Worldwide Account Director, Nestlé, during which time he drove double-digit growth across the account's 80 markets and helped the agency receive its highest satisfaction scores ever with the client. As Chief Marketing Officer for Publicis, Murray delivered more consistent new business conversion around that agency's positioning and put tools in place that helped define culture across the 10,000 person organization.
Prior to Publicis, Murray spent nine years at Leo Burnett, running accounts and new business, starting with his first role in their headquarters in Chicago and then moving to Germany, London and Paris, where he ultimately was the Regional New Business Director for EMEA. Born in the U.K., Carter received his Bachelor of Arts from Duke University.
About Draftfcb
With a focus on combining creativity and accountability, Draftfcb is committed to producing brilliant ideas that change consumer behavior and drive business performance. As a global, fully-integrated marketing communications agency operating against a single P&L, Draftfcb provides clients with highly collaborative, channel-neutral thinking that delivers engagement and, most important, action. Draftfcb has deep roots in both consumer advertising and behavioral, data-driven direct marketing, offices in 90 countries and strong agencies in many key growth markets.
About Interpublic
Interpublic is one of the world's leading organizations of advertising agencies and marketing services companies. Major global brands include Draftfcb, FutureBrand, GolinHarris International, Huge, Initiative, Jack Morton Worldwide, Lowe and Partners, MAGNA GLOBAL, McCann, Momentum, MRM, Octagon, R/GA, UM and Weber Shandwick. Leading domestic brands include Campbell Ewald; Campbell Mithun; Carmichael Lynch; Deutsch, a Lowe and Partners Company; Gotham Inc.; Hill Holliday; ID Media; Mullen and The Martin Agency. For more information, please visit www.interpublic.com.
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Contact Information
Tom Cunningham
(Press)
(212) 704-1326
Jerry Leshne
(Analysts, Investors)
(212) 704-1439