Saatchi poaches Paris staff from rival

ADVERTISING outfit M&C Saatchi, which floated last summer, had a truly retro look today as it kicked off its European expansion by announcing its Paris office will be set up by poaching the creme of rival agency Leo Burnett's team in the French capital.

How chic and how like the heyday of Maurice and Charles's big agency back in the 1980s, when creative directors could write their own transfer fee cheques.

Today's 'tapping up' sees Gilles Masson, Antoine Barthuel and Daniel Fohr, respectively president and co-creative directors of Leo Burnett Paris become founding partners and managers of the French Saatchi agency 'as soon as they are free to do so'.

Quite what length of 'vacance au jardin' Burnett owner Publicis might feel is necessary was not immediately clear. But what respectable Frenchman goes back to work before the end of August?

Nick Hurrell, chairman of Saatchi's European operations, said: 'Gilles, Antoine and Daniel are a close team of creative, dynamic and ambitious entrepreneurs. I have confidence they will build a great agnecy in France with us.'

Saatchi plans to move into Spain this year and Germany and Italy in 2006, using similar models to Paris, where it will give the local partners sizeable equity in their own operations rather than direct shares in the parent company.