- iLeo, Arc Marketing and Arc Interactive, Frankel and Semaphore Partners merge talents, assets and capabilities to create best-in-class agency -

Dubai, UAE, October 4 2004 - Publicis Groupe, Paris, has announced its newest creation, Arc Worldwide, a marketing services company that brings together four award-winning agencies - iLeo, Arc Marketing and Arc Interactive, Frankel and Semaphore Partners - to deliver integrated marketing solutions that drive client business.

The combined talents, assets and capabilities that make Arc Worldwide the 10th largest marketing services network in the world also signal the launch of a new breed of agency that globally delivers integrated, interlocking marketing solutions across the interactive, direct, CRM, database, promotion and retail disciplines. Aligned with the Leo Burnett Worldwide network, Arc Worldwide has 42 offices in 35 countries, including Arc Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in Dubai.

"Arc Worldwide is the only marketing services firm to deliver the necessary solutions for today's cluttered media environment. We are committed to creating innovative, meaningful and seamless connections interlocking across brand, channel and consumer, in the most powerful way," said Nick Brien, CEO of Arc Worldwide.

Not only will Arc MENA keep on offering the same world-class services and solutions, powered by the same dedicated team that was the driving force behind iLeo MENA, but now it also will leverage an exceptional global reservoir of shared knowledge and best practices.

Raja Trad, CEO, Leo Burnett Group of Companies, MENA, said, "Arc MENA will continue to work in harmony with the other units of the Leo Burnett Group and with Starcom MediaVest Group to provide our clients with a holistic communications offering that builds brands by reaching consumers across the full range of contact points."

The flexibility built into the Arc network means that each office has the freedom to configure its offerings based on its own strengths, skills and insights into local market needs. Arc MENA will deliver its clients the same range of market-leading services as iLeo provided - interactive, direct, CRM and database.

"This is an exciting time for interactive marketing in the region. Internet penetration and consumer accessibility are growing at an incredible pace. It is up to us to ensure that our clients are leaders in enhancing consumer connections and building market share," said Farida Shakhshir, general manager, Arc MENA-Digital.

"With Arc, we can now, and more than ever, leverage the extensive knowledge and expertise from the Arc global network to provide our clients, here in the MENA region, with unique and creative customer contact solutions," Tarek Masri, general manager, Arc MENA-CRM.

Arc MENA has an impressive roster of global and regional blue-chip clients that includes General Motors, Diageo, Philip Morris, Dnata and Saudi Telecom Company.

-Ends-

About Arc MENA
Arc MENA is an interactive, direct, CRM and database services company catering to clients such as General Motors, Diageo, Philip Morris, Dnata and Saudi Telecom Company across the GCC, Levant and North Africa. Arc MENA, formerly iLeo MENA, has its origins in Leo Burnett MENA's interactive arm, LB Digital, which launched in September 2000, and its customer relationship management division, LB CRM, which opened in 2001. Website: www.arcmena.com.

About Arc Worldwide
Headquartered in Chicago, Arc Worldwide is a new marketing services agency delivering holistic solutions by using innovation to drive growth.  With more than 1,200 employees covering 42 offices in 35 countries, Arc has taken the industry by storm, landing new business wins and global assignments that have led to double-digit growth in both revenues and margins. Website: www.arcww.com.

For more information, please contact
Name: Farida Shakhshir / Tarek Masri
Tel: +971 4 367 2588
Email: info@arcmena.com

© Press Release 2004