John Farrell quits Publicis Groupe

Publicis Groupe chief of marketing services John Farrell has resigned. The announcement follows the Groupe’s recent drop in profits.

Farrell, the president and chief executive of Specialised Agencies and Marketing Services (SAMS), has resigned with immediate effect. Formerly the chief executive of the now-defunct D’Arcy, Farrell was offered the role of running the SAMS when D’Arcy’s closure was announced in 2002.

Over the last five years, he has played a leading role on Publicis Groupe’s global mergers and acquisitions strategy, including the acquisition of Digitas, Freud Communications in the UK and Kekst in the USA.

Maurice Levy, chairman and chief executive of Publicis Groupe, says: “I am very sorry that John has taken this decision, as he has done an outstanding job for us defining the strategy of SAMS, and building the business to its current important level.”

Farrell was instrumental in the creation of Arc, part of Publicis, in 2002. SAMS offers a range of marketing services and expertise in specific segments through specialised agencies such as the Publicis Healthcare Communications Group.