• by Joe Mandese , August 1, 2005

Just weeks after control of its Paris-based parent Havas was shaken up, flagship agency Euro RSCG Worldwide has announced a shakeup of its own. James Heekin, the well-known Madison Avenue figure, is out as chairman-CEO. In his place, newly installed Havas chief Philippe Wahl Monday installed a management team to oversee the agency's operations.

While Havas' media operations do not appear to be impacted by the changes, the rapid restructuring of Euro RSCG is another indication that Havas is still in transition. Wahl used the term "turnaround" to describe the new team.

The team consists of two Executive Co-Chairmen: Mercedes Erra and Stephane Fouks; a CEO David Jones; and Chief Creative Officer Remi Babinet. Erra has been chairman of Euro RSCG France and President of BETC Euro RSCG. Fouks has been CEO of Euro RSCG France and CEO of Euro RSCG C&O. Jones has been CEO for Euro RSCG's flagship New York office. Babinet was president-creative director of France's BETC Euro RSCG.

Heekin, who has been a top manager at McCann-Erickson and J. Walter Thompson before joining Havas in 2000, has run Euro RSCG for the past two years.