Gary VonKennel Named Chairman/CEO of Rapp Collins Worldwide, Malcolm Speed Announces RetirementNEW YORK, March 9, 2004 — Omnicom Group Inc.'s Diversified Agency Services (DAS) today announced the appointment of Gary VonKennel as chairman/CEO of Rapp Collins Worldwide, one of the world's leading direct marketing services agencies, effective immediately. He replaces Malcolm Speed, who is following through on his original plan to retire after five years at the helm. VonKennel, 55, has been chairman of Tracy Locke Partnership, Dallas, Tex., and president/CEO of U.S. Marketing & Promotions (USM&P), Torrance, Calif., both parts of Omnicom DAS. Tracy Locke Partnership is a leader in all forms of brand activation, including promotions, field marketing, entertainment/event/sports marketing, merchandising and retail design. USM&P creates and executes live brand experiences using field, event and other forms of experiential marketing. He founded Promotional Services Group in 1981 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Tracy-Locke, which eventually evolved into Tracy Locke Partnership. VonKennel left the agency five years later to start Multi-Dimension Marketing, and returned to Tracy Locke Partnership in 1999 as chairman and CEO. "Gary VonKennel is an experienced, results-oriented marketing leader who is an excellent fit with the clients and culture of Rapp Collins," said Thomas Harrison, chairman, Omnicom DAS. "He has an excellent track record of clarifying the position of the business he leads, invigorating staff and helping them mature and maintain client relationships. We are confident he will continue to do that in his new role at Rapp Collins." Malcolm Speed, 52, joined Rapp Collins Worldwide as chairman/CEO in 1999 and has led the agency through years of significant growth. Under his guidance, the agency was named winner of Adweek magazine's prestigious Agency of the Year/President's Award for outstanding performance by a non-traditional ad agency in 2001. The following year, Speed was selected as jury president for the first-ever Cannes Lions Direct international awards program in Cannes, France. "Malcolm Speed came to us with the intention of spending five years in the position before retiring from the business," said Harrison. "Rapp Collins has benefited significantly from Malcolm's leadership and we greatly appreciate the many valuable contributions he has made. He leaves us on very good terms and we wish him all the best." Rapp Collins Worldwide (www.rappcollins.com), the most recent winner of Adweek's prestigious Agency of the Year/President's Award for outstanding performance by a non-traditional ad agency, is a global leader in direct marketing and customer management services. Part of Omnicom Group Inc., Rapp Collins Worldwide has more than 2,000 professionals in 70 offices in 38 countries. Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries. |
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