Omnicom to Merge Ketchum, Pleon to Create Global Network

http://adage.com/agencynews/article?article_id=137326
In one of the largest mergers in the PR industry, Omnicom Group is combining the operations of U.S.-based Ketchum and its European sibling Pleon to create a global network intended to rival some of the industry's biggest global players, with more than 2,000 employees operating out of 103 offices in 66 countries.

Globally the new agency will operate as Ketchum but be called Ketchum Pleon in the U.K. and continental Europe. Current Ketchum CEO and senior partner Ray Kotcher will head up the agency globally, while Timo Sieg, former chairman and CEO of Pleon, will be the agency's European CEO and join Ketchum's worldwide executive board. The move makes Ketchum a nearly $400 million shop, bumping it into the neighborhood of some of the world's largest agencies, including Interpublic Group of Cos.' Weber Shandwick, Omnicom's Fleishamn-Hillard, independent shop Edelman and WPP's Burson-Marsteller.