Robert Louis-Dreyfus, Former Saatchi CEO, Dies at 63

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Robert Louis-Dreyfus, best known in the ad industry as the man who brought Saatchi & Saatchi back from the brink of financial ruin during his run as London-based CEO of the holding company from 1990 to 1993, died of leukemia on July 4. He was 63. He briefly retired to his beloved Swiss ski slopes before taking up the Saatchi challenge. At Saatchi, he negotiated with creditor banks to defuse a debt bomb that many feared would bankrupt the company, and restructured Saatchi's management and holdings to drastically cut costs. Before his departure, Mr. Louis-Dreyfus positioned Charles Scott, the IMS colleague he brought to Saatchi as his chief operating officer, to succeed him. Mr. Scott would preside over the departure of both Saatchi brothers and the spinoff of a big chunk of the group into a separate holding company called Cordiant that consisted of the Bates network and a few other agencies. Turning Adidas around Mr. Louis-Dreyfus, meanwhile, had become intrigued by ailing German sports shoe and apparel marketer Adidas, at the time a money-losing also-ran behind Nike and Reebok. After leaving Saatchi, he joined Adidas as CEO and major shareholder, and turned the company around by revamping its management, marketing and product line. He followed his preferred management style: giving the company a broad strategic vision and leaving the execution to trusted subordinates. He left a revitalized Adidas in 2001. Despite a diagnosis of leukemia years ago, Mr. Louis-Dreyfus remained involved in a number of businesses, from owning French soccer team Marseille to his role as chairman of the board and major shareholder in Infront Sports & Media, a sports-rights business based in Zug, Switzerland. "He had the will to give, share and transmit his experience," Philippe Blatter, Infront's president-CEO, said in a statement. "One of his unique gifts was being able to inspire and motivate people to achieve their best." Mr. Louis-Dreyfus is survived by his wife, Margarita, and their three children.

Robert Louis-Dreyfus, Former Saatchi CEO, Dies at 63

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