Publicis Groupe Acquires Monterosa, Award-winning Global Mobile
Agency - Move to Boost BBH Network's Profile in Key Mobile
Marketing Segment
PARIS, December 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
Publicis Groupe [Euronext Paris:
FR0000130577] announced today the acquisition of the award-winning
global mobile agency Monterosa. The agency will report into
Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH),
providing the network with a core specialty in mobile
communications and a team of dedicated specialists around the
world.
The move follows Publicis Groupe's pioneering expansion into the
mobile advertising market with its acquisition of Phonevalley in
2007. Like Phonevalley, Monterosa is exclusively committed to
mobile marketing and communications, one of the high-growth digital
sectors in which Publicis Groupe is committed to expanding its
footprint.
Founded in 2009 by four Swedes - Johan
Hemminger, Johan Ståhle, Anton
Holmquist and Carl Norberg -
Monterosa has offices in New York,
Singapore and is headquartered in
Stockholm. The agency's 30-strong
team works with some of the world's biggest brands, including
Carlsberg, Google, Mercedes Benz,
Samsung and Vodafone. Award-winning work has included Mini Cooper's
'Getaway' campaign (2011) and a number of global apps such as Buick
Encore's 'Hide and Seek' in China,
Lufthansa's 'Anywake' in Scandinavia, AT&T's 'Daybreak'
in the US and the Pan-Asian Axe 'Dare' app for Unilever.
Monterosa will keep its name and the agency will work with its
own clients as well as other advertising agency partners throughout
BBH and Publicis Groupe. The deal will enable Monterosa to grow its
footprint to other areas in the world and work more closely with
its clients. Carl Norberg, a
co-founder of Monterosa, will continue to manage the agency and
will report to BBH Group's CEO, Gwyn
Jones.
The interactive and mobile advertising and communications sector
is currently experiencing spectacular growth as it benefits from
convergent technological developments and the massive spread of
smartphones. According to eMarketer, worldwide mobile-ad spending
will reach $6.4 billion in 2012 and
more than $23.6 billion by
2016. Monterosa's strong expertise in mobile and its
multi-region profile will provide BBH with a core specialty in this
key sector, which is one of the fastest growing media channels.
"The ubiquity and intimacy of smartphones make mobile
campaigns an entirely new way to communicate with consumers,"
said Gwyn Jones, CEO of BBH
Group. "Mobile ads can be uniquely useful and
pertinent - but they can also be perceived
by consumers as disruptive. It's vital that we help our clients
develop campaigns that are not just technically seamless, but also
friendly and relevant. We've been working
with Monterosa for 18 months now. They have a great
team, and a culture and approach that fit well with ours. We're
very excited about the potential for this strategically important
move."
Johan Hemminger, CEO of
Monterosa Stockholm, added,
"Our two companies share a passion for producing highly
creative, disruptive ideas with a dedication to craft. This deal
will enable us to take our work to the next
level. "
About Publicis Groupe
Publicis Groupe [Euronext Paris FR0000130577, part of the CAC 40
index] is the third largest communications group in the world,
offering the full range of services and skills: digital (Digitas,
Razorfish, Rosetta, VivaKi), traditional advertising (BBH,
Leo Burnett, Publicis Worldwide,
Saatchi & Saatchi), public affairs, corporate communications
and events (MSLGROUP), media buying and strategy (Starcom MediaVest
Group and ZenithOptimedia) and specialized communications with PHCG
(Publicis Healthcare Communications Group). Present in 104
countries, the Groupe employs 56,000 professionals.
http://www.publicisgroupe.com | Twitter:@PublicisGroupe |
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/publicisgroupe
Viva la Difference !
About BBH
In the first half of this year BBH in London was awarded Agency of the Year at the
British Arrows (BTAA) and won Creative Review magazine's Agency of
the Year. BBH Group was awarded the coveted Agency of the Year
award at the Webby Awards in the USA. BBH London is Campaign magazine's current
Agency of the Year and won the Grand Prix for Effectiveness at the
Cannes Festival of Creativity in June.
Website: http://www.bartleboglehegarty.com
Contacts
Publicis Groupe
Peggy Nahmany
Communication corporate
+ 33(0)1-44-43-72-83
Martine Hue
Relations investisseurs
+ 33(0)1-44-43-65-00
Stéphanie Atellian
Relations investisseurs
+ 33(0)1-44-43-74-44
Monterosa
Johan Hemminger (Sweden)
Founder
+46-702-99-30-34
Carl Norberg (Singapore)
Founder
+65-92727-840
BBH
Isobel Barnes (London)
PR Manager
+44-7931-553-577
Deborah Abraham (APAC)
PR Director
+65-9683-9086
SOURCE Publicis Groupe