Interpublic Names Joseph Farrelly Chief Information Officer

Interpublic Names Joseph Farrelly Chief Information Officer

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–March 3, 2006–The Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) announced today that Joseph Farrelly, 61, has joined the company as Chief Information Officer. In this role, Mr. Farrelly assumes responsibility for strengthening and integrating the holding company’s information technology infrastructure, across all operating units. He is also tasked with improving the company’s financial and management reporting systems.

“Joe joins us at a critical time. Information technology plays an increasingly important role in every business, particularly for a company in transition, such as ours,” said Frank Mergenthaler, Interpublic’s Chief Financial Officer. “Joe is a proven global leader who has successfully strengthened and integrated IT organizations through periods of tremendous change. He will be charged with implementing technology solutions that will significantly enhance the financial and reporting systems of a large and complex organization.”

Prior to joining Interpublic, Mr. Farrelly spent four years as CIO of Aventis Pharmaceuticals, where he oversaw the company’s application portfolio strategy, IT infrastructure initiatives, and SAP software. Prior to Aventis, Farrelly was CIO of Seagram Universal, and later Vivendi Universal, where he had global responsibility for information systems, which included Universal Music Group and Universal Studios. Prior to that, he served as CIO of Nabisco, the cookies and snacks division of Kraft Foods.

Based in New York, Joe reports to Frank Mergenthaler and replaces outgoing Chief Information Officer John Cirone.