PARIS — Pascal Beucler has stepped down from his role as SVP and chief strategy officer at MSL, ending a 31-year association with Publicis Groupe.

Beucler, who plans to focus on an entrepreneurial venture, took on the MSL role in 2009, when the agency become Publicis Groupe's de facto global PR network. Beucler helped steer the firm's thought leadership and worked with clients across the globe.

He joined Publicis subsidiary Intelligences as a consultant in 1987, before becoming MD in 1992. In 1995, Beucler was a founding partner of domestic powerhouse Publicis Consultants France, before becoming GM of newly-acquired branding/design shop Carré Noir in 2001.

Beucler returned to Publicis Consultants in 2005 as worldwide VP, overseeing brand strategy and international network development.

"MSL is grateful for the many contributions Pascal Beucler has made to our company over his decades of service.  We wish Pascal nothing but the very best," the firm said in a statement.

Since 2016, Publicis has restructured its agency model, which has seen MSL integrated into the Publicis Communications unit on a national P&L basis alongside the holding group’s creative and communications agencies.