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Now Burnett global CEO Stoddart departs in ongoing Publicis Groupe restructure

Break down a “silo” and someone heads to the door it seems.

Publicis Groupe is busily attacking the aforementioned silos of course and now Leo Burnett’s global president and CEO Rich Stoddart (below) is off – to join marketing execution firm InnerWorkings as president and CEO – and will be replaced by global CCO Mark Tutssel, who’s also to be executive chairman. Publicis is dispensing with network CEO roles.

Burnett lost the massive McDonald’s creative account in the US to DDB last year.

The Publicis statement said: “As we continue on our journey to be the market leaders in marketing and business transformation, these appointments will allow Publicis Groupe to reinforce our global practices while further breaking down silos at country and regional level. This is a key priority for us in order to constantly build on the quality of the expertise we deliver to our clients in a seamless way.”

Publicis now consists of four “hubs,” of which Communications, housing the creative agencies, is one. The other big creative agencies in the group are Saatchi & Saatchi, Publicis Worldwide and BBH.

Moves like this are bound to add to speculation that Publicis is gradually moving to one big creative agency or fewer than it currently has. BBH is guaranteed its independent status within the group by a deal struck when Publicis bought the whole agency a few years back.

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