Unilever's Alan Rutherford Named CEO, Digitas Global

Unilever's Alan Rutherford Named CEO, Digitas Global

June 08, 2007

    BOSTON and LONDON, June 8 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Digitas today announced that Alan Rutherford, currently VP
of Global Media for CPG giant Unilever, will join the
agency family as CEO of Digitas Global, the division formed
to grow the agency's business and service to clients
worldwide.  Rutherford will join Digitas in September and
be based in London.  He will report to Digitas Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer, David Kenny.

    Rutherford is charged with driving the global growth
opportunity of Digitas by leading the agency's expansion
into major new markets around the world and leveraging the
agency's expansion platform businesses, which include
Digitas London and Prodigious Worldwide.  Rutherford's
direct reports will include Corey Torrence, President,
Prodigious Worldwide, the digital productions company; Norm
Johnston, President, Digitas London, the agency beachhead
for the U.K. and Europe; and Greg Green, SVP and head of
Digitas' Media Operations & Technology. 

    Last month Digitas announced the creation of Prodigious
Worldwide, spun-off the former Digitas agency Modem Media to
sibling Publicis Worldwide, and reintroduced a U.K. presence
in the form of Digitas London as part of the agency's global
expansion plan.  

    "The explosion of digital media worldwide has had
a major impact on how brands communicate; if they are to
win, they need the capabilities to manage digital
communications in every market they serve," said
Kenny.  "We're fortunate to capture Alan's expertise
to lead our talent in creating global scale for Digitas
capabilities so that we continue to help drive our clients'
worldwide digital success." 

    "It's always been a personal ambition to be at the
leading edge of brand communication and a privilege to help
instigate worldwide communication channel planning for
Unilever," said Rutherford.  "I'm equally
privileged to be asked to lead the global expansion of
Digitas and to bring my experience to bear on its world
class organisation, people and portfolio of clients."

    Prior to joining Unilever in 1998, Rutherford served as
a Director at Ogilvy and Mather Europe. He began his career
with Dorlands Advertising in 1984.  Rutherford received an
Honors B.A. in Economics from Leicester University.

    About Digitas 

    Digitas is one of the world's leading digital marketing
and media companies.  The Digitas marketing engine marries
art (creativity and insight) and science (analytics,
delivery, media, measurement, strategy and technology)
across digital, direct and indirect media to help blue-chip
global brands develop, engage and profit from their customer
relationships.  Agency sub-brands and subsidiaries include
Digitas USA, Digitas Health, Digitas Global, Digitas London
and Prodigious Worldwide, the dedicated digital productions
company.  Digitas is a member of the Paris-based Publicis
Groupe S.A. (Euronext Paris:  FR0000130577, NYSE: PUB), the
world's fourth largest communications group and second
largest media counsel and buying group.      




    For more information, please contact:

     John Stevens
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

     Sarah Van Praagh
     Tel:   [phone]