AMG will operate as an independent unit within Havas Advertising’s Diversified Agencies Group, joining over 50 independent agencies that concentrate on six key sectors: marketing services, public relations, interactivity, design, human resources and advertising. The Abernathy MacGregor Group will report directly to Patrick Lemarchand, Chairman and CEO of Havas Advertising Diversified Agencies Group North America.
Founded in 1984, The Abernathy MacGregor Group counsels the senior managements of major corporations in corporate and financial public relations, investor relations, transaction communications and crisis communications. AMG is a 65-person firm headquartered in New York with an office in Los Angeles.
Alain de Pouzilhac, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Havas Advertising, said, This transaction offers us a unique opportunity not only to strengthen our expertise in the rapidly growing financial communications market, which is a key sector for Havas Advertising, but also to enhance our position in North America, where we intend to become even stronger.
With an impressive client roster, AMG is a leader among the top-tier strategic communications firms. We look forward to welcoming AMG’s highly qualified management team to our group. I am pleased that the Diversified Agencies Group has convinced the managers of AMG to join us.
Jean-Michel Carlo, Vice-Chairman of Havas Advertising, Chairman and CEO of Diversified Agencies Group said, Following our important European acquisitions of W&Cie in France, and Hudson Sandler in the UK, this agreement is totally in line with our strategy of expanding our financial communications businesses worldwide. We are particularly pleased to be partnering with one of the most respected teams in this industry. We have brought The Abernathy MacGregor Group under the Havas Advertising umbrella to play a key role in our financial communications practice. In addition, with margins at the top of the industry, we believe AMG’s highly profitable business will be an important contributor from a financial point of view.
James L. Abernathy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Abernathy MacGregor Group, said, We are delighted to be joining Havas Advertising. As the demand in our industry for increasingly complex worldwide capabilities continues, Havas Advertising offers our firm invaluable global resources and expertise, which will in turn enable us to serve our clients even more effectively than we could have done independently.
Mr. Abernathy continued, This defining moment for AMG is a testament to the tremendous dedication of the employees throughout our firm. It is their talent, work ethic and integrity that has put AMG where it is today, and it will be those same people that will continue to serve our clients and develop our business in the years to come.
