Publicis UK Strengthens Integrated Client Offering with Key Group Promotions

Over the last two years, Publicis UK has grown and broadened its integrated offering to clients, across the 5 agencies: Publicis London, POKE, Vivid, August and Chemistry. In its next step of transformation, Guy Wieynk, CEO of Publicis UK and Western Europe and Global Lead for Sapient Inside, has made two key promotions:

Karen Buchanan, CEO of Publicis London, will step up to the newly created role of Chairman, Publicis London and Chief Client Development Officer, Publicis UK. The promotion follows Publicis London’s new business success over the last year with brands including P&G Dish, Morrisons, Heineken global digital and YOPA. In her new role, Buchanan will also oversee client relationships across all Publicis UK’s group of agencies.

Nick Farnhill, Co-Founder and CEO of POKE, now takes on the additional remit of CEO, Publicis London. This is following POKE’s substantial growth momentum: 100% in 2015 and 50% in 2016 and global digital wins including Heineken. In his new role, Farnhill will focus on growing digital communications and experiences for Publicis UK clients.

Nik Roope, Co-Founder and Executive Creative Director of POKE, further continues his responsibilities as he expands his role to include Global Creative Digital Lead on Heineken which involves him in the two businesses Poke and Publicis UK.

The new appointments reinforce Publicis Groupe’s Power of One philosophy, simplifying structures and enabling greater collaboration and easier, more seamless access to resources.

Buchanan and Farnhill will work closely with the Publicis UK management team and continue to report into Wieynk.

Guy Wieynk, CEO of Publicis UK and Western Europe and Global Lead, Sapient Inside, commented: “We believe in creating the specialist and bespoke teams best suited to helping transform our clients’ businesses. The new structure will provide clients with easier access digital communications, digital experiences and Sapient Inside’s enterprise technology offering. Karen and Nick’s promotions are testament to the incredible growth we have achieved over the last two years, and their continued dedication to our clients’ business, creativity and success.”

Karen Buchanan, Chairman of Publicis London and Chief Client Development Officer of Publicis UK, said: "We’ve made great progress over the last two years, which is down to the strong, integrated and collaborative nature of Publicis UK. Now feels like a good time to build on that momentum. My new role will allow me the opportunity and greater access to take us a step further in ensuring we have the best integrated solutions to offer all of our clients. Nick and I have been working closely, he has built a force of creativity within POKE and has the ability to fulfil Publicis London’s commitment to applying digital to the heart of everything we do for our clients."

Nick Farnhill, CEO of POKE and Publicis London, added: "POKE continues to develop and grow brilliantly which is a credit to the whole team and I’m excited to see it evolve further. I’m also equally excited to work even more closely with Karen and drive both Publicis London and POKE to deliver on our shared digital ambitions for Publicis UK."