Publigroupe: Resignation of Chairman of the Board of Directors Philippe Pidoux
Major personnel changes at Publigroupe: The advertising agency is introducing a dual role at the top of the company. Going forward, CEO Hans-Peter Rohner will also serve as chairman of the board of directors. He takes over this role from Philippe Pidoux, who has unexpectedly stepped down.
Major personnel changes at Publigroupe: The advertising agency is introducing a dual role at the top of the company. Going forward, CEO Hans-Peter Rohner will also serve as chairman of the board of directors. He takes over this role from Philippe Pidoux, who has unexpectedly stepped down.
Publigroupe announced on Friday that Pidoux had announced his resignation at the April 2009 general meeting. However, the dual role—which has been controversial from a corporate governance perspective—is intended to last only «for a limited time.» Publigroupe further states that this consolidation of «key decision-making authority» will enable the company to keep decision-making processes short and the organization efficient.
Publigroupe is being hit hard by the current economic slowdown. The company is facing a challenging transformation phase, and this makes it necessary to focus on the dual role. To meet corporate governance requirements, Board Member Pascal Böni will assume the role of Lead Director during the period of Hans-Peter Rohner’s dual role.
In addition, the Board of Directors is to be downsized as part of the ongoing restructuring of the Group. Accordingly, Gerhart Isler, the former publisher of *Finanz und Wirtschaft*, will step down from the board at the end of 2008.
The group also announced that the Board of Directors had appointed Thomas as Deputy CEO of the Group effective May 1, 2009. Kaiser is the head of the Digital & Marketing Services division.
Publigroupe announced on Friday that Pidoux had announced his resignation at the April 2009 general meeting. However, the dual role—which has been controversial from a corporate governance perspective—is intended to last only «for a limited time.» Publigroupe further states that this consolidation of «key decision-making authority» will enable the company to keep decision-making processes short and the organization efficient.
Publigroupe is being hit hard by the current economic slowdown. The company is facing a challenging transformation phase, and this makes it necessary to focus on the dual role. To meet corporate governance requirements, Board Member Pascal Böni will assume the role of Lead Director during the period of Hans-Peter Rohner’s dual role.
In addition, the Board of Directors is to be downsized as part of the ongoing restructuring of the Group. Accordingly, Gerhart Isler, the former publisher of *Finanz und Wirtschaft*, will step down from the board at the end of 2008.
The group also announced that the Board of Directors had appointed Thomas as Deputy CEO of the Group effective May 1, 2009. Kaiser is the head of the Digital & Marketing Services division.
