• by March 15, 2004

JOHN PERRISS HAS A BIRTHDAY WISH, BUT WHO WILL HOLD HIS CANDLE? - "It has long been my intention to cease full time executive employment at the age of 55 years, and I am now approaching my 56th birthday," says John Perriss, ending speculation on what his next moves might be now that he is stepping down as CEO of Zenith Optimedia. Unlike the countless former Zenith employees whom he helped cease full time employment for, Perriss presumably is making this move willfully. In fact, Perriss says he's already lined up "a limited number of non-executive roles" and plans to "devote more time to my private interests" after overseeing a tidy transition to a new successor.

While it's still unclear exactly who that successor will be, Zenith Optimedia North America chief Rich Hamilton is considered a favorite by a long shot, though you probably can't count Mike Drexler, CEO of Zenith's Optimedia unit, out of the money. Both executives have a long history of running big media buying concerns, innovation and strong client contacts. One thing that's unlikely, is that parent Publicis would go outside for a candidate, especially if, as many expect, there will be further integration with between Publicis' other media network: the ever so hot Starcom MediaVest Group.

Another possibility is that Publicis might tap a senior executive from its current starchild. We doubt it would be SMG chairman Jack Klues, whom we think is more likely to preside over an even bigger media holding company structure a la MindShare's Group M, or Interpublic's Magna units. And while Renetta McCann and Laura Desmond, chief executives respectively of SMG's Starcom and MediaVest units, might also seem strong candidates, they're already running such tight ships; it's hard to imagine Publicis wanting to create any instability in those operating units.

But there is one dark horse the Riff can easily imagine making the move, SMG's business development wizard Nick Brien. Aside from being a rainmaker extraordinaire, he's also one of the smartest media minds inside the SMG organization, and had the color and panache that Zenith always seemed to lack. On top of all that, Brien is a Brit, which would make him well at home in Zenith's London-based headquarters.

For their part, Publicis management is being typically mum on the topic. "We have identified a successor, and we will make an announcement in due course, but certainly not until we have had time to inform our clients and our employees," is all Roger Haupt, president-COO of Publicis, would say on the matter, lest anyone mistake the name "Publicis" for the word "publicity."