LONDON, July 11, 2016
/PRNewswire/ -- Grey, Adweek Global Agency of the Year, is
strengthening its presence in the Benelux region, having acquired a
majority stake in Brussels based
'Famous', one of the largest independent advertising agencies in
Belgium.
Famous will rebrand as 'FamousGrey', furthering the agency
network's position as a provider of full-service marketing
solutions in a market which has increasing creative reputation and
influence.
A full service agency with digital at its heart, Famous has been
operating for 15 years. Most recently the 80 strong agency has been
named 'Media Marketing' Agency of the Year, as a result of their
creative and business successes.
David Patton, President and CEO
of GREY EMEA, said "Famous continually ranks highly amongst the
best performing creative agencies in Belgium, having won at Cannes Lions, Effie and
Eurobest award ceremonies. Grey's acquisition of Famous signals a
meeting of both minds and philosophies. With half of Grey's
'Famously Effective' ambition in the agency name, Famous mirrors
not only Grey's strong creative reputation, but also its agency
culture."
Patton continued, "This acquisition signals our commitment to
continued growth in Western Continental Europe. In view of the
recent Brexit referendum, it's imperative we actively seek to
accelerate our expansion across key EU markets. Brussels sits at the heart of the EU and it's
now critical we have a strong agency presence in that city."
Famous is led by an experienced management team headed by
Marc Fauconnier, Founder & CEO
and ACC Board Member. Fauconnier said of the acquisition, "I am
very proud that Famous has joined forces with Grey in the heart of
Europe. We see this new
partnership as a recognition of the quality of our work, both
creatively and technologically. Grey's track-record of leveraging
creativity to generate commercial growth is second to none. It is
not only a distinguished and multi-award winning agency, but also
one with a strong culture of creativity. We got to know Grey as a
network of entrepreneurial and passionate people, where we feel
perfectly at home and are excited to adopt Grey as our new family
name, to become FamousGrey."
About Grey
Grey is the advertising network of Grey Group, which is led by
James R. Heekin III, Chairman and
CEO. Grey Group ranks among the largest global communications
companies. Its parent company is WPP (NASDAQ : WPPGY). Under the
banner of "Grey Famously Effective Since 1917," the agency serves a
blue-chip roster of many of the world's best known companies:
Procter & Gamble, GlaxoSmithKline, Kellogg's, Pfizer, Canon,
3M, NFL, Boehringer Ingelheim, Marriott Hotels & Resorts,
Nestlé, Papa John's and T.J. Maxx.
Grey was named ADWEEK's "Global Agency of the Year" for 2015.
For more information, visit www.GREY.com.
About WPP
WPP is the world's largest communications services group with
billings of US$73 billion and
revenues of US$19 billion. Through
its operating companies, the Group provides a comprehensive range
of advertising and marketing services including advertising &
media investment management; data investment management; public
relations & public affairs; branding & identity;
healthcare
communications; direct, digital, promotion & relationship
marketing and specialist communications.
The company employs 194,000 people (including associates and
investments) in over 3,000 offices
across 112 countries.
For more information, visit www.wpp.com.
About Famous
Famous is Belgium's 'Media
Marketing' Agency of the Year 2015. The agency employs 80
people,
offering specialists for every discipline the advertiser of today
needs. Famous creates campaigns for
national and international companies such as Engie, Belgian Rail,
Mediafin, VRT, AB-Inbev,
Quickstep, Ixina and Thomas Cook.
This year Famous won three bronze Lions at Cannes.
Famous Relations, a sister agency of Famous which offers a wide
range of PR services, is also part of the deal with Grey, but keeps
its original name.
Famous resides in an 18th century monastery on the green outskirts
of Brussels.
For more information, visit www.Famous.be
Media contacts
Liesbeth
Pyck
Co-Founder & Director
FAMOUS Relations
T: +32 2 411 35 45
Liesbeth.Pyck@Famous.be
Marc Fauconnier
Founder & CEO
FAMOUS
T: +32 2 411 35 45
marc.fauconnier@Famous.be
David Patton
President & CEO
GREY EMEA
T: +44 203 037 3000
David.Patton@greyeu.com
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SOURCE Grey