Business briefs

Publicis Groupe Friday said Nigel Vaz will become global chief executive officer (CEO) of Publicis Sapient with immediate effect. Vaz was previously the CEO of Publicis Sapient International (EMEA and APAC), and will now be in charge of leading Publicis Sapient's 35 offices and 20,000 people across the globe, a statement said.

Vaz is also leading a re-branding of Publicis Sapient, it added.

* * * * CCI, GeM ink pact for fair, competitive environment

* The commerce ministry's online public procurement platform, Government-e-Marketplace (GeM) and Competition Commission of India (CCI), has inked an agreement to enable a fair and competitive environment in the platform. The MoU was inked on February 6.

"Both CCI and GeM appreciate the importance of advanced analytical tools and processes for identification of malpractices like cartelization. In order to pool their knowledge of the public procurement domain for detection of anti-competitive practices the MoU has been signed," the ministry said in a statement. GeM is a national public procurement platform of Ministry of Commerce and Industries, that has used technology to remove entry barriers for bonafide sellers and has created a vibrant e-marketplace with a wide range of goods and services.