MUNICH—Christoph Walther is to step down as CEO of CNC, as the public relations firm that he founded in 2002 expands following its merger with Publicis Groupe sibling Capital MSL.​

Walther will be succeeded on 1 June by Bernhard Meising, currently a partner at CNC's HQ in Munich. Meising will be supported by MD Thomas Empt, while Walther will remain on the firm's supervisory board, focusing on client work. ​​

All three of the executives have committed to remain with CNC for three years 1 June, 2015. "I am very happy that we have taken a decision that reflects both continuity and the smooth and swift handover of the operational management to the next generation," said MSLGroup EMEA CEO Anders Kempe in a internal memo to staff. ​​

"We thank Bernhard and Thomas for taking over the additional responsibility. We are extremely grateful that Christoph will stay on board, energetic as ever, to advise our key clients and to acquire new business."​

CNC has also established an executive committee following its merger with UK firm Capital MSL, which brings its network to 11 offices in eight countries. In addition to Walther and Meising, the committee will include Roland Klein and Richard Campbell in London; Knut Engelmann in Frankfurt; Otto Fricke in Berlin; Jochen Legewie for Asia; and Barbara Springer as financial director.​

"With this, we are able to guarantee that CNC will continue to be run in the most effective way so we can concentrate on what we are best at: working with our clients and growing our company successfully," said Walther. "Management and partner meetings will continue to take place twice a year."

News of the senior reshuffle was first reported by PRMagazin. CNC was sold to Publicis Groupe in 2012, and has been managed under the MSLGroup brand. The initial three-year earn out ends this year. ​

Prior to founding CNC, Walther was SVP at DaimlerChrysler AG, responsible for corporate, product and internal communications as well as corporate marketing. From 1987 to 1995 he was responsible for public affairs, communications and served as general legal counsel for Reemtsma Cigarettenfabrik.