Amsterdam, Düsseldorf, London, 6 March 2006. Pleon, Europe’s market-leading agency for public relations and public affairs, will be effecting a generation change within its European management as of 1 April 2006. Rainer Zimmermann, CEO Europe, and Alex Schoep, President Europe, will be stepping down from overall control and handing over management of the company to Timo Sieg. Sieg has been the CEO of Pleon Germany since 2004 and has served the company as managing partner for ten years. He will head Pleon Europe as CEO. Schoep takes on the role of Chairman.
As architects of Pleon which was formed in 2004 and longstanding chiefs of the German and Dutch agencies which are now part of Pleon, Rainer Zimmermann and Alex Schoep will not be leaving the company: they will continue to serve clients as Senior Partners but without any further operational management duties. “The Pleon network with over 31 branded offices in 15 countries is now well established as the most broadly-based and largest European communications consultancy; shaping its future is now down to the next generation,” is how Zimmermann and Schoep explained their decision. “We have a strong European management team supporting Timo Sieg, with ambitious goals. Together, they will forge ahead with the development of Pleon.”
Timo Sieg is appointing Frank Behrendt as the new CEO of Pleon Germany, similarly effective 1 April. Behrendt currently heads the Düsseldorf office as managing partner, a position which will be taken over by Sabrina Hintzen, herself also a partner in the company.
“Thanks to our work and investments over the past two years, we are extremely well positioned in terms of both structural organisation and human resources. This means we will be able to focus on developing and executing great campaigns for our clients and generating sustained growth in Europe’s core markets in the coming years,” Sieg said in a statement. Since 1 January 2006, Pleon has incorporated agencies in six Eastern European countries into its network; as a result, the company is represented in all relevant markets across Europe. Pleon has around 850 permanent employees.
Pleon is a subsidiary of BBDO Worldwide, whose President and CEO, Andrew Robertson, said: “We are committed to delivering the most compelling commercially-relevant content for our clients. In Pleon we have a world class practitioner. I am sure that Timo will build on the excellent foundations laid under the leadership of Rainer and Alex.” In the same way as his predecessors, Timo Sieg will be reporting directly to Robertson.
Otherwise the European management board will remain unchanged; alongside Sieg and Schoep, the members are: Geoff Beattie (UK), Tim de Boer (Netherlands), Anja Verheij (Belgium), Pierre-Louis Morin (France), Gianni Catalfamo (Italy), Markus Hilse (Practices), Detlev Samland (Public Affairs), Saskia Kreuzer (Hungary & CEE), Markus Schindler (Austria), Alfred Köcher (Switzerland), Jens Ravens (Finance), Frank Behrendt (Germany).
About Pleon
Pleon (www.pleon.com) is Europe’s leading international consulting firm, creating and implementing strategies for private and public sector organisations around the world. With a deep understanding of business, politics and communications, Pleon is uniquely placed to devise compelling solutions that deliver measurable and tangible results. Blending the best of local market knowledge and leadership with global resources and best practice, Pleon provides a one-stop resource for communications in Europe.
The Agency has 31 branded offices in 15 European countries and associate agencies in 14 countries across Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Pleon is part of the Brodeur/Pleon Worldwide network with a presence throughout the United States, Asia Pacific and Latin America and part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com), a leading global marketing and corporate communications company.
Contact in case of query:
Alex Schoep
Tel: +49 211 9541 2339
Tel: +31 204 87 4000
Timo Sieg
Tel: +49 211 9541 2128
Prof. Dr. Rainer Zimmermann
Tel: +49 211 9541 2307