Kitcatt Nohr Alexander Shaw, the UK-based direct marketing and digital agency, has been acquired by Publicis Groupe for an undisclosed sum.
The agency will now be merged with Digitas in the UK, creating a new agency called Kitcatt Nohr Digitas, which will become part of the VivaKi group of agencies. The new operation will have around 160 people and will boast a client list that includes Procter & Gamble, John Lewis, Lexus and Delta Airlines.
“SI Partners provided wonderful assistance to us in the acquisition of Kitcatt Nohr Alexander Shaw by Publicis Groupe. I am a great believer in intermediaries in this kind of situation. It is a difficult job. They need the matchmaking skills of a Cupid, the experience of a sage, the hand-holding skills of a great teacher, the patience of a saint, the aggression of a scalp hunter, the translation abilities of a skilled interpreter, the confessional habits of a priest, the negotiation skills of an auctioneer, the nerves of a steeplejack, the doggedness of a sheepdog, the mine detection skills of a trained sapper, the comforting qualities of a nurse and the acuity of a QC. The pennies may pile high indeed, but SI Partners have proved they are worth every one."
Jeremy Shaw, Chair, Kitcatt Nohr Alexander Shaw
It will be led by the Kitcatt Nohr founders Marc Nohr and Paul Kitcatt, who take on the roles of chief executive and chief creative officer respectively. The pair will report to Stephan Beringer, the president of Digitas International.
Vonnie Alexander, the client partner at Kitcatt Nohr, will take on the role of chief client officer, while Jeremy Shaw, Kitcatt Nohr’s chairman, becomes commercial director.
Sav Evangelou, the executive creative director of Digitas London, will now take on a broader international role, responsible for handling the network’s multinational clients. He will report to Marc Beeching, the chief creative officer of Digitas worldwide.
James Sanderson, the UK president of Digitas, has left following the deal.
Kitcatt Nohr launched in 2002 and has been the result of speculation regarding possible acquisitions on several occasions, most notably in 2008 when it was thought to have been the subject of an approach from Engine.
Publicis Groupe rolled-out VivaKi in June 2008 as a way of aiming to put digital “at the heart” of all of Publicis’ operations. The offering currently includes Razorfish, Denuo, Starcom MediaVest and ZenithOptimedia.
Source: campaignlive.co.uk
