ad: Annual 2024 Now Open For Entries!
*

Publicis acquires yet another digital agency, this time in Italy

Published by

The Publicis Groupe recently announced they had acquired another digital agency, following hot on the heels of their acquisitions in Germany (Zweimaleins), South Africa (Synergize), Poland (Interactive Solutions) and the UK (Outside Line). As with those agencies, the group's new shop, Italy's social media agency Ambito5, will be integrated into their Saatchi & Saatchi network, the Italian branch of which has been consistently ranked as the most awarded creative agency in Italy at the Cannes Lions Festival and The Italian Art Directors Club. Publicis is the third major holding company to acquire a social media shop in the last fortnight. Last week, both WPP and Interpublic bought agencies in other markets.

The Publicis Groupe's new shop, Italy's social media agency Ambito5, will be integrated into their Saatchi & Saatchi network

Ambito5 was founded in 2003 by Max Brondolo with a mission statement to “Create, develop and activate social experiences that help grow business and brands.” The agency currently employs 45 members of staff and works with blue chip clients such as Direct Line, L'Oréal, Decathlon, Metzeler and Swatch. It has also been closely partnering with Saatchi & Saatchi Italy on certain key clients like Toyota, Lexus, and Procter & Gamble wince 2011, so the two companies are already quite familiar with one another. Brondolo (below) says they have been “Looking for a way to bring a global dimension” to the agency for a while now, and feels that “Becoming part of the Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide network” is the answer they have been looking for. He feels as excited to join Saatchi & Saatchi as he did when he first founded Ambito5 ten years ago and believes that “A future of great creative work together in an inspiring and engaging environment” is ahead of them.

Ambito5 currently employs 45 members of staff and works with blue chip clients such as Direct Line, L'Oréal, Decathlon, Metzeler and Swatch

Aa part of the deal, Brondolo will take on the role of president of the board of directors and general manager Giuseppe Mayer will retain his place. Saatchi & Saatchi Italy's CEO Giuseppe Caiazza, meanwhile, will become Member of the Board of Directors with delegation of powers. Caiazza, who is also head of automotive business for the EMEA region, is “Very proud that the Groupe has chosen to integrate Ambito5 into Saatchi & Saatchi Italy.” He is confident that the move will strengthen their digital presence in the region, allowing Saatchi & Saatchi Italy to “Develop ideas together with clients to engage and excite an increasing number of people around the world."

Giuseppe Caiazza is “Proud that the Groupe has chosen to integrate Ambito5 into Saatchi & Saatchi Italy” and is confident that it will strengthen their digital presence in the region

Justin Billingsley, COO of Saatchi & Saatchi EMEA, adds that everyone at the agency is “Delighted to be officially bringing Ambito5 into the fold.” He highlights their “Social expertise, creative brilliance and existing digital capabilities in Italy” as primary reasons why the agency were chosen, believing these factors together make for an incredibly powerful combination. He also underlines that “This acquisition is the latest marker of an ongoing transformation across a region that has been steadily gaining momentum over the past 18 months."

Official Ambito5 Website

Official Publicis Groupe Website

Official Saatchi & Saatchi Italy Website

Benjamin Hiorns is a freelance writer and musician from Kidderminster in the UK.

Comments

More Leaders

*

Leaders

Inspiring Female Leaders: An Interview with RAPP CEO Gabrielle Ludzker

Gabrielle Ludzker is not just any CEO. The current head honcho at customer experience agency RAPP has spent her career breaking away from the traditional corporate CEO stereotype. and leads to inspire rule breakers. Gabby is an inspirational rule...

Posted by: Benjamin Hiorns
ad: Annual 2024 Now Open For Entries!