In Duff, Publicis N.Y. Finds Mix Of The Old And New

In the past 18 months, Publicis in New York has integrated its Chicago sibling, added key executives and accounts from D’Arcy, and reshaped its management team. Now, one major task remains, said David Droga, Publicis Groupe’s global executive creative director: “forge our own personality.”

A key architect of that new personality will be CEO Gill Duff, whose selection earlier this month rounds out a new leadership team at the agency. The 44-year-old Duff brings the blue-chip client-handling skills and appreciation for high-profile TV advertising associated with BBDO—where he most recently ran the worldwide FedEx account—as well as a drive to move the 250-person shop beyond traditional media advertising.

“Publicis in America, particularly in New York, is quite timid and almost apologetic that it is part of a European-based network,” noted Droga, who’s been on the job 14 months, 10 of those based in New York.