Maurice Levy to Receive Global Leadership Award; UJA-Federation of New York Lauds Publicis Chairman And CEO

Business Wire, Nov 29, 2000

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 29, 2000

Some 450 advertisers and media guests are expected at the Pierre Hotel on the eve of Dec. 5 to honor Maurice Levy, chairman and CEO of Publicis Groupe, who will be presented with the Global Leadership Award on behalf of UJA-Federation of New York by William McDonough, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

The evening will also pay tribute to Andrea Alstrup, corporate vice president of advertising at Johnson & Johnson, and Bob Wehling, global marketing officer at Procter & Gamble. Both will be presented with the Maxwell (Mac) Dane Award for Humanitarian Excellence for their roles as chairs of the Family Friendly Programming Forum.

"Maurice Levy is recognized as one of the world's leading figures in advertising, marketing and communications," said Leslie Winthrop of AAR Partners, chair of the advertising group on behalf of UJA-Federation of NY. "The UJA-Federation is giving Mr. Levy this award in recognition of his many significant professional accomplishments and his life-long personal commitment to charitable giving and service to the community."

Mr. Levy, 58, a 39-year veteran of the communication industry, joined the Publicis Groupe in 1971 as general manager of its IT Department. He quickly moved into the heart of the agency's business, advertising and marketing services, and became managing director of Publicis Conseil, the company's flagship agency in France. Recognizing clients' needs for a full range of communications services, Mr. Levy created a group of both specialized and general-service agencies and subsidiaries throughout Europe. He became chairman/CEO ("President du Directoire") of the Publicis Groupe in 1988.

"I am deeply honored to be recognized for this award by the UJA-Federation," said Levy. "The Federation continues to uphold the long and distinguished tradition of service by the Jewish community in New York City."

Mr. Levy holds the distinction of "Officier" of the French Legion d'Honneur. He is a past president of the Jury of the Cannes Advertising Film Festival, served on the French Government Commission to combat Drug Addiction and is a member of the Board of the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris. Mr. Levy also supports the French Friends of Tel Aviv and Hebrew Universities as well as the Pasteur-Weizman Institute for Cancer Research.

Publicis Groupe S.A. (NYSE: PUB; Euronext-Paris Bourse) is the world's fifth-largest communications organization, with 18,000 employees on five continents, in more than 100 countries, through strong globally-branded networks and agencies: Publicis, Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide, Fallon, Frankel, Publicis Dialog, Burrell Communications, Optimedia and Publicis & Hal Riney.

UJA-Federation of New York is the largest local philanthropy in the world, raising more than $250 million annually. The lives of more than 4.5 million people in the New York community, Israel and 50 other countries are touched through an integrated network of more than 100 human service agencies.

For information and reservations call 212-836-1115 or e-mail Seripokartn@ujafedny.org. Or contact Marigrace Canter 212-684-6300, 374/email mcanter@publicis-usa.com