Dru told Le Monde that although the Havas job represented "a tremendous challenge", he had decided to stay at TBWA. "I have a deep attachment to a company that I helped to forge," he said.
Many thought the prestige of running a holding company in his native France would prove irresistible to Dru, but he was persuaded otherwise by Omnicom's chief executive, John Wren, at Cannes.
Sources say Havas' board is now most likely to nominate either Mercedes Erra, the president of its BETC Euro RSCG subsidiary, or the head of the holding company's PR interests, Stephane Fouks.
Havas offered Dru the post after Alain de Pouzilhac stepped down as its chief executive and chairman when Vincent Bollore gained four seats on the board.
- Leader, page 18
- Comment, page 40.