Hasta La Creative!

Omnicom CEO John Wren on Tuesday — while speaking to shareholders and analysts about the company’s third quarter results — said its merger with Publicis Groupe is on track to close in early 2014.

“It is going well,” Mr. Wren said, noting that the approval process — whereby regulators in different markets are scrutinizing any antitrust issues — is underway in more than 40 countries. So far, South Korea and South Africa are the only markets to rubber-stamp the deal. “As we clear major hurdles, as we go through this, we will inform the public” Mr. Wren said.

“There’s an integration process that [Publicis Groupe CEO Maurice Levy] and I and our management team have agreed to,” which is focused on “the most sensible, profitable, thing to do in the priority we should act once the deal is approved.” Mr. Wren added that the two companies are preparing to meet to discuss those integration plans this month (a reference to the news Ad Age broke of a quiet gathering of key leaders from Publicis and Omnicom that will take place at the Four Seasons hotel in Miami).

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