NEW YORK -- MSLGROUP Americas today announced that Stephen Millikin has joined the agency as Senior Vice President, Director of Fashion and Luxury, and as a senior strategist in its BE SPOKE specialty unit that focuses on fashion, beauty and the luxury category.  Millikin will report to Carson Gray Elias, Senior Vice President and Director, BE SPOKE.   

MSLGROUP Americas formed BE SPOKE in June 2011 to provide fashion, beauty and luxury clients with an alternative agency option that combines the deep industry knowledge and the service-oriented approach of a boutique agency with the full-service strategic footprint of a global agency.   Since its launch, the unit has enjoyed strong success, adding Neiman Marcus, Tiffany & Co., and Shiseido to its client roster. 

Millikin will add new depth to the BE SPOKE team in New York and will drive the strategy behind many of these accounts.  He brings a rich combination of fashion, luxury and cultural experience to the firm through support of well-known and prestigious brands such as Brioni, Joseph Abboud, Philip Treacy, Breitling, Swarovski, Hästens, Champagne Taittinger, Beringer Wines, Banana Republic, Avon, Target, Aruba, Turks and Caicos and many others.

Millikin has also served in the cultural sector, having held positions with San Francisco Opera, Brooklyn Academy of Music and The Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College. From 2008-2011, he was selected to serve as a panelist for the New York State Council on the Arts.

“I look forward to helping expand our business in the fashion and accessories categories, as well as beauty and design by helping clients properly engage in today’s always-on conversation,” said Millikin.  “MSLGROUP Americas is well positioned to help clients pull the essence of their brands across all channels of communication -- through social and traditional media, rich experiences and events, relevant cultural partnerships and more.”

"Stephen Millikin will allow MSLGROUP Americas to continue to deepen its services and continue to grow its expertise in the fashion and beauty categories,” said Jim Tsokanos, President MSLGROUP Americas.  “Last year, the BE SPOKE unit showed among the strongest growth in the New York office, and the addition of Stephen will help accelerate this expansion.”

Millikin began his career in the world of fashion and luxury goods over 20 years ago at the iconic I. Magnin in San Francisco.  After moving to New York City, Millikin held positions at LaForce + Stevens and later with Formula PR, where he continued to hone his expertise in these categories.

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Publicis Groupe [listed on the Euronext Paris Exchange - FR0000130577 - and part of the CAC 40 index] is the world's third largest communications group. With activities spanning 104 countries on five continents, Publicis Groupe offers local and international clients a complete range of advertising services through three global advertising networks, Leo Burnett, Publicis, Saatchi & Saatchi, and numerous agencies including Fallon, 49%-owned Bartle Bogle Hegarty, and Kaplan Thaler Group. VivaKi combines digital and media expertise, allowing it to connect with consumers in a holistic way, with Starcom MediaVest Group and ZenithOptimedia worldwide media networks; and interactive and digital marketing led by Digitas and Razorfish networks. VivaKi develops new services, tools, and next generation digital platforms. Publicis Groupe’s specialized agencies and marketing services offer healthcare communications with Publicis Healthcare Communications Group (PHCG, the first network in healthcare communications), sustainability communications and multicultural communications. With MSLGROUP, one of the world's top five PR and Events networks, expertise ranges from corporate and financial communications to public relations and public affairs, branding, social media marketing and events.  www.publicisgroupe.com