Havas Kicks Off Integration of Media Departments

SFM/Media Planning has dropped its initials and will now be called Media Planning, taking the name of owner Havas’ Barcelona, Spain-based global media network. Steve Farella, SFM COO, becomes CEO of Media Planning in the U.S., and SFM co-founder Bob Frank becomes vice chairman of the French holding company’s media operations in America.

The name change reflects the accelerating absorption of the media departments of Havas’ U.S. agencies into Media Planning. When this process is completed at the end of this year, Farella said, Media Planning will add an additional $1 billion in U.S.