The greatest accomplishment of Publicis Groupe has been to preserve a spirit of conquest in the men and women it brings together everywhere in the world. This was clear in 2010. Last year was one in which our employees demonstrated once again that they have both the desire and the ability to go beyond their past accomplishments, no matter how difficult the challenge. That means being ambitious, winning new accounts and opening up new approaches to business development, in the midst of a challenging environment.

Despite the tough business climate, our people refused to take ‘no' for an answer and followed their drive to win. They took on the future with confidence, mastering the obstacles in their way, with the determination that overcomes pessimism and fatalism. And so, while they achieved great things this year, the spirit that drove those achievements may be even more impressive and admirable.

Our people have reminded us that they are clearly our most valuable asset. If the recent crisis had a silver lining, it was in fully revealing their value.  On behalf of the Supervisory Board and on my personal behalf, I would like to thank each and every one of them for the job they have done.

We would also like to thank the Management Board and its Chairman, Maurice Lévy, in particular. Their visionary strategies have made it possible for Publicis Groupe not only to achieve robust growth as we come out of one of the world's most serious economic downturns, but to actually emerge strengthened from that downturn. Publicis Groupe is now brimming with health and making us believe anything is possible.

It is gratifying and encouraging that - very early on and before everyone else - the Groupe was able to identify the sources of future growth that were emerging from new patterns of social behaviour;  these are important to understand for any company, let alone a communications group. The way Publicis Groupe continues to monitor those changes and advise our clients on what they mean to their strategies and operations is one reason why they value our counsel. Indeed, our partners are keenly aware of the Publicis Groupe spirit as a whole and have proven it by continuing to place their trust in us.

Keeping ahead of the pack and moving forward without preconceived notions - such have been the hallmarks of Publicis since its creation. This is reflected in its strategic choices, what it does, how it does it, and in its governance practices.

At a time when adjusting the male/female balance in senior management is still on the drawing boards at many companies, it is a source of great pride for me to preside over the Supervisory Board with the largest number of women in Europe. I am even prouder when I think that this happened naturally. Our appointments were made without regard to quotas, affirmative action or other regulations. We simply acknowledged the value of the people around us, among whom there happened to be as many women as men.

I am the least surprised of anyone!