Publicis merges digital shops SapientNitro and Razorfish globally to form SapientRazorfish

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ALAN-WEXLER.jpgNigel-Vas.jpgPublicis.Sapient, part of Publicis Groupe today announced the merger of SapientNitro and Razorfish to form SapientRazorfish which is designed to better fuse the significant experience and technology capability across the two businesses in response to client needs for digital expertise at scale.

“We have had great success in helping our clients with their transformation programs since the formation of Publicis.Sapient in early 2015,” said Alan Herrick, chairman of Publicis.Sapient. “By creating SapientRazorfish, and by implementing a more integrated management structure, we are combining the very best digital and technology assets in one combined unit. SapientNitro and Razorfish have been clear market leaders since the invention of digital. To now bring them together builds on the great success we have seen in many recent collaborations with clients.”

Key management changes are:

  • Alan Herrick will move to the role of Chairman, Publicis.Sapient, focusing on strategy and market development at the Publicis.Sapient and Publicis Groupe level. Additionally, he will continue to advise clients’ CEOs and their Boards as they consider how best to undertake digital transformation efforts
  • Alan Wexler (above left) and Chip Register will become Co-CEOs of Publicis.Sapient, assuming responsibility for day-to-day business operations
  • Alan Wexler will assume responsibility for the newly-formed SapientRazorfish as CEO
  • Chip Register will continue in his role as CEO Sapient Consulting and will also lead a combined global practice and delivery structure, designed to better aggregate the incredible breadth of capability in industry consulting, experience and marketing, and technology and data
  • Shannon Denton, currently CEO Razorfish, will assume the role of Chief Strategy Officer for SapientRazorfish and will also head global practices for Publicis.Sapient
  • Publicis.Sapient will further emphasize a regional collaboration with Nigel Vaz (above right) assuming responsibility for an integrated management team in Europe and Asia while Chip Register and Alan Wexler will co-lead North America.

Says Maurice Levy, Chairman & CEO of Publicis Groupe: “For the past 10 years, Publicis Groupe has been leading the way in reshaping our company to be more digital. From the acquisitions of Digitas, Razorfish, Rosetta and most recently Sapient, there is no question that we have set the pace. And when we formed Publicis.Sapient we integrated the strongest set of capabilities in digital, consulting and technology amongst any of our peer group. We are now taking this next, important step, to further integrate these formidable assets.

“SapientRazorfish is a powerful new entity in the marketplace uniquely combining customer experience strategy, omni channel commerce, and technology deployment to create a new breed of digital transformation partner pointed at today’s most critical client need – reshaping their businesses for the future. I am confident that Alan and Chip, together with the new Publicis.Sapient structure and management in place, will continue to drive digital revenue to our goal of 60% by 2018. Further, I am thrilled to have Alan Herrick working with me on the continued progress we are making at Publicis Groupe as I consider how best to position the Groupe and configure leadership across the many dimensions inherent in steering both our clients, and the Groupe itself, to a prosperous future.”

“We are excited to assume responsibility for leading Publicis.Sapient,” said Alan Wexler and Chip Register, Co-CEOs Publicis.Sapient. “Since its inception in 2015, Publicis.Sapient has uniquely integrated Publicis Groupe’s formidable digital, technology and consulting assets to solve the most highly strategic problem for clients. Now we start this new chapter to further integrate in response to the increasing digital demands of our clients. We are proud to lead an incredibly talented and powerful leadership team that together will reshape the future for our clients and, we believe, the competitive landscape overall as markets reconfigure in new and interesting ways.”

The newly configured Publicis.Sapient will begin fully operating in the new model effective January 2, 2017, although management changes announced are effective immediately.