Publicis Groupe invests in global forum for women

by Staff, Brand Republic 03-Sep-09, 12:40

PARIS - Publicis Groupe, owner of Saatchi & Saatchi and ZenithOptimedia, has bought a majority stake in an organisation dedicated to promoting the vision of women in global thinking called the Women's Forum for the Economy and Society.

The Women's Forum, founded in 2005, will remain autonomous and not be integrated in to any of the Publicis networks.

The forum is an annual event, which sees speakers from around the globe sharing their experiences of anything from business to health issues, with a focus on women's vision, influence and impact.

Publicis said that it had acquired the forum to help it expand and cover all world regions, using its connections to brand names.

Publicis clients L'Oreal and Renault are among the sponsors of this year's forum.

Aude de Thuin, founder and chairwoman of the Women's Forum, retains her role, reporting to Olivier Fleurot, the chief executive in charge of public relations and event marketing for the entire Publicis Groupe.

The Women’s Forum will be drawing on the skills of the Publicis agencies with a PR and event marketing focus.

Maurice Levy, chairman and chief executive of Publicis Groupe, said: "The Women's Forum is an extremely important platform for debating, exchanging views and engaging in discussion on issues that are relevant to both our core business and the overall position of women in our globalised society."

This year's forum is to be held in France in October and will feature speakers including the philosopher, AC Grayling, Vivienne Cox, who is chief executive of alternative energy at BP, and BusinessWeek senior editor Diane Brady.

Last year it was attended by 1,200 delegates from 90 countries.