Interpublic Names Karen Kaplan Chairman of Hill Holliday

 

New York, NY - January 17, 2014 - Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) today announced that Karen Kaplan would add the role of Chairman to her existing CEO title and responsibilities.

 

"Karen is a tremendous leader, a great role model in our industry and a valuable resource to her clients in achieving their business objectives," said Michael I. Roth, Interpublic's Chairman and CEO. "In recent years, Karen has consistently driven profitable revenue growth and developed new talent and capabilities, while continuing to raise the bar in terms of strategic and creative thinking, digital innovation and commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace."

 

Ms. Kaplan joined Hill Holliday in 1982. During her tenure, she has worked in nearly every department at the agency, rising through the ranks of management while building the business of leading clients, including Bank of America, John Hancock, Liberty Mutual, Dunkin' Donuts, Major League Baseball, TJX, Novartis and Chili's. She was named President of the Hill Holliday network in 2007, and appointed CEO in May of last year.

 

"I've always been very proud to be a part of this great agency, which is why I take the responsibility for its leadership so seriously," said Kaplan. "And I've never been more excited about Hill Holliday as we enter this new chapter in our evolution. My vision for Hill Holliday is to be the best creatively-driven modern agency in the country, and every decision I make is based on delivering against that ideal."

 

In a related move, Mike Sheehan, current Chairman of Hill Holliday, who led the agency through a successful period of growth during his tenure, will leave the agency. As of today, all responsibilities related to the Chairman title will transition from Sheehan to Kaplan. This move will allow Mr. Sheehan the opportunity to pursue his advisory and investment roles in a variety of businesses outside of Hill Holliday. "We respect that Mike is increasingly focused on a growing number of endeavors outside of the agency," added Mr. Roth. "We thank Mike for his contributions and wish him well in this new phase of his life and career."

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Hill Holliday is among the top creative marketing agencies in the country, with 950 employees across its network. Hill Holliday works on some of the nation's largest and most respected brands, and the agency's success came by putting people and ideas first. Hill Holliday was founded in 1968 and today the agency brings unbeatable talent and expertise to every area of modern communications on behalf of industry leaders like Cadillac, Verizon Wireless, Bank of America, Dunkin' Donuts, (RED), John Hancock, TripAdvisor, Major League Baseball, TJX, Merrell, Capella University, Chili's, Novartis and WHOLE WORLD Water. For more about the people, work, and culture at Hill Holliday, please visit http://www.hhcc.com.

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Interpublic is one of the world's leading organizations of advertising agencies and marketing services companies. Major global brands include BPN, Draftfcb, FutureBrand, GolinHarris International, Huge, Initiative, Jack Morton Worldwide, Lowe and Partners, MAGNA GLOBAL, McCann, Momentum, MRM, Octagon, R/GA, UM and Weber Shandwick. Leading domestic brands include Campbell Mithun, Carmichael Lynch, Deutsch, Gotham Inc., Hill Holliday, ID Media, Lowe Campbell Ewald, Mullen and The Martin Agency.  For more information, please visit www.interpublic.com.

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Tom Cunningham
(Press)
(212) 704-1326

Jerry Leshne
(Analysts, Investors)
(212) 704-1439