Lowe wins out as Interpublic confirms merger with APL

– The Interpublic Group of Companies has confirmed that Ammirati Puris Lintas is to be merged with Lowe & Partners Worldwide.

The combined agency will be known as Lowe Lintas & Partners Worldwide and will be dominated by executives from Lowe & Partners.

With billings of $11 billion it will be led by Frank Lowe, as chairman and chief executive. He will be supported by deputy chairman, Michael Sennott, who joins from sister Interpublic agency, McCann-Erickson. Sennott is currently vice chairman of McCanns.

Joining Lowe and Sennott on the board of the new agency are Jerry Judge who has been named president, the same role he currently holds at Lowe & Partners.

Adrian Holmes, currently chief creative officer at Lowes, also takes on the same role in the new network. The same is true for Lee Garfinkel becomes chairman and chief creative officer of Lowe & Partners US.

The only Ammirati executive to pick up a senior role in the new operation is Vincent Lubrano, who retains his position of chief financial officer in the new set-up.

With the confirmation came the anticipated resignation of Martin Puris, the APL chairman and chief executive. He will also step down from the Interpublic board.

According to Philip H Geier, chairman and CEO of Interpublic: "As the global marketplace changes, clients have an increased requirement for high-quality worldwide agencies of the type we're creating today. That's why this is a truly important move for Interpublic and an exciting move for both companies."

He added: This merger will combine the professionalism of APL and its global clients with the creative strengths of Lower, providing a stronger worldwide resource that will directly benefit our clients."

This article was first published on Campaign