2013-03-18 18:31:55 -

Interpublic to Own a Minority Stake

New York, NY - March 18, 2013 - Tom O'Keefe, a Chicago-based creative director,
well known for his creative/business relationships with Amazon.com, Electronic
Arts, Levi Strauss & Co., MillerCoors and Yum! Brands, announced today that he's
launching his own agency with former creative partner Matt Reinhard and new
business leader Nick Paul. The agency, which will be headquartered in Chicago,
will be named O'Keefe Reinhard & Paul ( www.okrp.com/). Interpublic Group
(NYSE: IPG) is investing in the agency, and will own a minority stake.

"We feel this is the right time for the business, and right for us personally,
to make this move," said O'Keefe. "Clients are looking for their agency
partners
to think big and act fast - our model is nimble, but our   work is substantial and
made to get results. I'm thrilled to re-partner with Matt, with whom I've done
my best work. And Nick possesses one of the sharpest business minds I know - he
completes our trio perfectly," O'Keefe added.

Interpublic Chief Strategy and Talent Officer Philippe Krakowsky noted, "We've
known and worked with Tom, Matt and Nick for some time. Our decision to invest
behind their vision demonstrates the respect they're held in within our agencies
and by our clients. O'Keefe Reinhard & Paul can be a nimble and highly
customizable complement to our portfolio of agency, media and specialist
brands."

Reinhard and O'Keefe met working at FCB on Coors brands, most notably Keystone's
"Bitter Beer Face." Their first big creative recognition came with the launch of
"The Singing Sweatermen" campaign for Amazon.com, and they followed that up with
"Think Outside the Bun" for Taco Bell. Most recently, O'Keefe served as ECD of
Draftfcb North American, overseeing such celebrated campaigns as Dockers "Wear
the Pants" and Oreo's 100th Year celebration. Reinhard won recognition for the
often parodied Electronic Arts "Oh No, You Didn't" Mercenaries 3 campaign, and
more recently served as creative director of marketing at Amazon.com, launching
the Kindle Fire, the 2011 Kindle E-readers and the Silk browser.

Reinhard stated, "It's amazing to partner with Tom again. Throughout our
careers, we've felt that our collaboration led to the work for which we were
most proud.  We can't wait to make the work the centerpiece of our new agency."

Nick Paul has the distinction of having worked at the big three sides of
marketing - client, agency and media provider.  As a client, he brought the Men
In Black movie franchise to Ray Ban's Wayfarer brand.  He ran global new
business development at Draftfcb, at a time during which the agency enjoyed its
greatest winning streak. And as a media provider, he brought together the NCAA
Maui International basketball tournament with EA Sports and ESPN networks to
form a long-term partnership that continues today.

Paul stated, "I have worked with Tom and Matt for many years, and know that the
combination of our team chemistry, deep knowledge and expertise of brand
communications and focus on the clients and the work will make for a great
agency."

O'Keefe Reinhard & Paul are currently working with several clients, and will
launch their first work within the month.

                                     # # #

About Interpublic
Interpublic is one of the world's leading organizations of advertising agencies
and marketing services companies.  Major global brands include 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 Ewald; Campbell
Mithun; Carmichael Lynch; Deutsch, a Lowe and Partners Company; Gotham Inc.;
Hill Holliday; ID Media; Mullen and The Martin Agency.  For more information,
please visit www.interpublic.com.

                                     # # #

Contact Information
Tom Cunningham
(Press)
(212) 704-1326

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

OKRP: Tom O’Keefe, Nick Paul & Matt Reinhard: 
 hugin.info/150260/R/1686078/552609.jpg



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Source: INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC. via Thomson Reuters ONE
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