Dooner attempts a fair balance at IPG.(Interpublic's chief executive John Dooner)(Brief Article)

Those who have worked at Lowe over the years know just what it feels like when the words "Frank's on the phone for you" are uttered: your stomach sinks as panic travels like electricity through you. And last week's reports that Lowe's dominion, called The Partnership, has been extended to incorporate Initiative Media, Deutsche, Bozell and more will see that sensation spreading to new fields.

Yet Interpublic's restructure has mostly met with favourable comment. By creating The Partnership, IPG is aligning various smaller businesses with the likes of Lowe Lintas and Initiative, creating "synergies, and lending critical mass to those who need it. But in the short term, the restructure's significance has more to do with keeping group heads happy. Rumours of conflict between Lowe and IPG's chief executive, John Dooner, have been rife this year.

On paper Lowe has been owed more influence within IPG. When the former IPG head, Phil Geier, retired it was Dooner, the head of McCann-Erickson, who took the helm, not Lowe. And as if this wasn't enough, another McCann chief, Michael Sennott, was made vice-chairman of Lowe Lintas & Partners two and a half years ago.

So in making ...