Publicis Groupe : Acquisition of Synergize, a South African Agency
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
PUBLICIS GROUPE ACQUIRES LEADING DIGITAL MARKETING AGENCY 'SYNERGIZE' IN SOUTH
AFRICA
Publicis Groupe [Euronext Paris: FR0000130577] has announced the 100%
acquisition of South African digital search marketing company, Synergize.
Founded in 1999, Synergize is one of only a few Google Analytics accredited
agencies in Africa and the Middle East. The agency offers services in SEO,
online marketing, web design, CMS development, mobile, PPC/Paid Media,
analytics, copywriting and social media. Their portfolio of 100 clients varying
in e-commerce, property, finance, retail and travel include those such as, Prime
Meridian, a South African car insurance company, Car Magazine, Property 24 and
Cash Crusaders, a popular local second-hand e-commerce site.
Synergize is the Search Marketing category winner of the 2012 and 2013 Bookmarks
Awards, and a winner of 3 additional 2013 Bookmark awards, the Oscars of digital
marketing in South Africa.
The agency will be integrated into Saatchi & Saatchi South Africa, further
boosting its integrated communications capabilities in South Africa and across
the Saatchi & Saatchi Africa network. Saatchi & Saatchi's At Play digital arm
will be absorbed into the new division, which will be renamed Saatchi & Saatchi
Synergize.
Shaune Jordaan, CEO of Synergize, will become CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi Synergize
and Chris Corbet, the co-founder of Synergize, will become Chief Operating
Officer. The Synergize staff team of 48 will integrate into the Saatchi &
Saatchi offices in both Cape Town and Johannesburg to form a team of 154
professionals.
Jordaan declared, "The combination of Saatchi & Saatchi's creativity and
Synergize's analytical and measurement aspects will deliver results driven
campaigns using extensive reporting tools, and will give Saatchi & Saatchi
Synergize a strong competitive edge."
According to Gail Curtis, Saatchi & Saatchi Group CEO, South Africa, "The
integration of this Big Data powerhouse into Saatchi & Saatchi South Africa will
ensure the new integrated entity is a formidable force on the African continent.
Synergize's in-depth knowledge of search engines and online marketing techniques
that will increase the value we can deliver for our clients," says Curtis.
Justin Billingsley, COO of Saatchi & Saatchi EMEA, says, "Synergize is very good
at what it does, namely optimizing the digital channel so that brands can reach
their audiences faster, at lower costs and convert these people to purchase." He
continues, "They play very well in the so-called 'Big Data' space that is
attracting the attention and spend of our clients. When we look at potential
partners it is not just about capabilities. What's amazing about Synergize is
not just that they are awesome at what they do, but their culture, under the
inspirational leadership of Shaune Jordaan, is a natural fit with ours."
South Africa is ranked as the eighth fastest growing advertising market in the
world between 2013 and 2016, driving the next wave of adspend growth.
About Publicis Groupe
Publicis Groupe [Euronext Paris FR0000130577, CAC 40] is one of the world's
leading communications groups. We offer the full range of services and skills:
digital (DigitasLBi, Razorfish, Rosetta, VivaKi), creative services (BBH, Leo
Burnett, Publicis Worldwide, Saatchi & Saatchi), public affairs, corporate
communications and events (MSLGROUP), media strategy, planning and buying
(Starcom MediaVest Group and ZenithOptimedia) and healthcare communications,
with Publicis Healthcare Communications Group (PHCG). Present in 108 countries,
the Groupe employs 60,000 professionals.
www.publicisgroupe.com | Twitter:(at)PublicisGroupe | Facebook:
www.facebook.com/publicisgroupe | Linkedin : Publicis Groupe |
http://www.youtube.com/user/PublicisGroupe | Viva la Difference !
About Saatchi & Saatchi
Part of the Publicis Groupe, the 3rd largest communications holding company
worldwide, Saatchi & Saatchi's Network clients include Diageo, Carlsberg,
General Mills, HSBC, Lenovo, Mead Johnson, Mondelez International, Novartis,
Procter & Gamble, T-Mobile, Toyota and Visa Europe. With 130 offices and over
6000 employees, Saatchi & Saatchi is known for its outstanding creative ideas
that generate powerful emotional connections between consumers and products.
This is a key element in Lovemarks, Saatchi & Saatchi's unique methodology for
elevating the status of brands by creating 'loyalty beyond reason' and
'inspirational consumers'.
www.saatchi.com | Twitter : (at)Saatchi_Sisomo | Facebook :
www.facebook.com/SaatchiSaatchi | LinkedIn: saatchi-&-saatchi
Contacts
Publicis Groupe
Peggy Nahmany Corporate + 33 (0)1
Communications 44 43 72 83
Martine Hue
Investor Relations + 33 (0)1 44 43 65 00
Stéphanie Constand-
Atellian Investor Relations + 33 (0)1 44 43 74 44
Saatchi & Saatchi
Isobel Kerr-Newell Marketing Director +44 7947 375 103
(EMEA)
Debby Reader (South +27(0) 83 377 6124
Africa)
This announcement is distributed by GlobeNewswire on behalf of
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(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and
other applicable laws; and
(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and
originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Publicis Groupe via GlobeNewswire
[HUG#1747209]
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 03.12.2013 - 08:01 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 322005
Anzahl Zeichen: 6652
contact information:
Town:
Paris
Kategorie:
Business News
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