ZenithOptimedia has appointed Marie Carey as its new MD following the departure of John Clancy to Carat Ireland.
Carey has been ZenithOptimedia’s UK business director for the past few years and her appointment will effectively put an end to speculation that the Publicis-owned agency might scale back its Dublin office after the group recently lost the UK and Ireland account for L’Oreal to rival Maxus. In fact the decision by ZenithOptimedia to acquire a majority stake in Walker Media in the UK this week could trigger a number of account changes in the Irish media space over the coming months as Walker Media beds itself into the ZenithOptimedia stable.
Earlier this week ZenithOptimedia announced that it was acquiring a 75.1% stake in M&C Saatchi’s Walker Media for £36m in cash. Walker Media’s clients include Curry’s PC World, Haribo, VisionExpress, Weetabix, Sony, Boots, KFC, Oris, Marks & Spencer, FOX and Halfords.
The newly enlarged ZenithOptimedia Group in the UK will be comprised of Zenith, Optimedia, ZenithOptimedia Worldwide, Walker Media, Performics, Newcast and Ninah. The acquisition also indirectly links M&C Saatchi with Publicis Groupe’s Saatchi & Saatchi, 18 years after brothers Charles and Maurice broke away from the agency in acrimonious circumstances. M&C Saatchi will retain its 24.9% stake in Walker Media. Walker Media’s co-founder, Christine Walker is also a former CEO of Zenith Media Services in the UK.
