"We feel India is a market strategically critical to the Bates' network, which has annual billing of about $7.1 billion, to provide integrated advertising services to its global clients," chairman of the new board of Bates Clarion Jean De Yturbe told newspersons here.

Since BW's affiliation with Clarion in 1997, the contribution of international business had increased from 25 per cent to 60 per cent now, he said adding the merger would complement the pool of talent in India with Bates' cutting edge competencies in advertising and media practices.

BC's newly formed board includes BW's chief financial officer Arthur D'Angelo and Bates europe regional director Mike Coyle, he said adding it would report to BW Europe.

More local non-executive directors would be inducted into the board in line withits operating practice `think global, but act local', he said.

However, he parried questions on the BW's stake in Bates Clarion, but said the company had acquired maximum stake of 74 per cent as stipulated by the regultory institutions.

BW, a Cordiant Communications group company, would also bring in its two sister concerns - Zenith Media Worldwide, a global media services and planning agency and `141', Bates' non-conventional media company - to India, he said.