PR Masters Series Episode #92 - Maurice Lévy
In this episode of the PR Masters Podcast, host Art Stevens interviews Maurice Lévy, a global marketing communications leader and honorary chairman of Publicis Groupe. They discuss Levy's journey in transforming Publicis into a global powerhouse, the importance of globalization in marketing, the future of global communications, and the role of AI in enhancing marketing strategies. Levy shares insights on the future of public relations, the impact of size in attracting global clients, and his reflections on mentorship and future aspirations.
About Our Guest
Maurice Lévy joined Publicis Groupe in 1971 as IT Director. In 1975, he was appointed Executive Vice-President of Publicis Conseil, the Groupe’s flagship, passing through all the stages until his appointment as Chairman of the Management Board in 1987. He held this role for 30 years, until the General Shareholders’ Meeting of May 2017, when he was appointed as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Publicis Groupe SA. He steered the accelerated globalization of the Group starting in 1996. In 2001, Publicis Groupe’s globalization picked up more steam with the acquisition of Saatchi & Saatchi, then Bcom3 (Leo Burnett, Starcom, MediaVest, etc.) in 2002. The forceful passage into the digital world began with the acquisition of Digitas (2006), followed by Razorfish (2009). The acquisition of Sapient in early 2015 opened new avenues for Publicis beyond its core business into marketing, omni-channel commerce and consulting.
In May 2024, Maurice Lévy was named Honorary Chairman of Publicis Groupe.
Maurice Lévy co-founded the Institut français du Cerveau et de la Moëlle épinière (ICM) in 2005 and today chairs the Board of Directors of numerous organizations, including the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, and, since October 2015, the Institut Pasteur-Weizmann. He has also received numerous distinctions for his work and his fight for tolerance. He is Grand Officier de la Légion d’honneur and Grand Officier de l’Ordre National du Mérite
