Publicis Groupe merges Digitas and LBi, creating DigitasLBi

Cristina Blanaru Creativity, Digital & Media, Mobile

Publicis Groupe announced the merger of Digitas and LBi to form the leading, fully integrated global digital agency network, with digital marketing and technology capabilities at the core. The new network, DigitasLBi, will be led by LBi Chief Executive Luke Taylor, who has been appointed DigitasLBi’s Global CEO.

DigitasLBi will be the most complete digital agency network in the world, leveraging the longstanding dominance of Digitas in the USA – where it is the largest digital agency – together with LBi’s strong position in Europe and the leading position enjoyed by both agencies in Asia Pacific. DigitasLBi will comprise 5,700 best-in-class digital and technology experts in 25 countries around the world. DigitasLBi clients include American Express, Coca-Cola, Delta, eBay, L’Oréal, Johnson & Johnson, Mondelez P&G, Nissan, Sprint and Starbucks.

Digitas and LBi share strong grounding in digital, including data, direct, social, search and platform delivery. The new digital network’s “end-to-end” proprietary technology suite will include LBi’s Audience Engagement Platform as well as Digitas’ CRM365 Intelligence Platform and award-winning BrandLIVE. The combination of these technologies and surrounding services will allow DigitasLBi to form a uniquely perceptive view of the customer and distribute creative content efficiently across earned, owned and paid media channels, driving marketing effectiveness and delivering better value to brands.

Advertisers need a truly integrated and global digital network that can anticipate trends, forecast the ‘ next ‘ , while constantly innovating in our ever-changing world (…) The combination of Digitas and LBi will create the world ‘ s leading concentration of digital skills and competencies in the world, capable of delivering solutions to all clients, everywhere. I ‘ m very happy that Luke will be managing this new global network. I ‘ m sure that he will bring innovative vision and market-defining services to our clients, and this is and will always be our relentless focus. The formation of DigitasLBi is an essential landmark. It will certainly be the most competitive, attractive network in the market for both clients and talent.

Maurice Lévy,

Chairman and CEO of Publicis Groupe.

As Global CEO of DigitasLBi, Luke Taylor will report directly to Bob Lord, CEO of Publicis Groupe’s Digital Technology Division. A team of senior LBi, Digitas and Publicis Groupe executives will oversee the merger process under the leadership of Stephan Beringer, CEO, Digitas and Razorfish International, ensuring flawless delivery of the newly enhanced service offering to clients in every geography.

One of the key strategic tenets of the combined DigitasLBi offering is the scalable, flexible technology and product suite that will help meet the full spectrum of marketer needs from audience engagement, to sense-and-respond content development and publishing, to real-time relationship marketing (…) This is an exciting union between two powerful brands, with complementary strengths in product and service that will redefine the role of an agency.

Bob Lord,

CEO of Publicis Groupe’s Digital Technology Division

In 2012 LBi and Digitas received a combined total of over 200 awards globally. Specifically, Digitas won two Cannes Lions Grand Prix last year, whilst LBi secured the SXSW People’s Choice Award. Digitas was also recently named OMMA Agency of the Year 2012 and LBi UK Digital Agency of the Year 2012 by Marketing magazine.

DigitasLBi represents the first time that insight, content and distribution has been brought together in one agency, providing clients with a truly integrated, best-in-class, global offering (…) I ‘ m thrilled to have been appointed to oversee the genesis and strategic evolution of DigitasLBi and harness the unique opportunity to leverage an unparalleled breadth of geographies, services and proprietary technologies to pace set the markets.

Luke Taylor,

Chief Executive of DigitasLBi.

Sitting alongside sister Publicis Groupe digital brands Razorfish and Rosetta, DigitasLBi cements Publicis Groupe’s ambitions in this critical area for its clients and the future of the communications sector. Publicis Groupe’s share of revenue derived from digital operations is now over 35%, enhancing its ability to deliver innovative and best-in-class services to clients.

Colin Kinsella continues in his role as Chief Executive Digitas North America, while Ewen Sturgeon remains Chief Executive of LBi, Europe, Middle East and Asia.

The creation of DigitasLBi will not affect MRY, which will remain a standalone entity under the leadership of founder and Chief Executive Matt Britton. With an enhanced headcount and service offering, MRY will continue to operate as an integrated agency with a social center of gravity.

Publicis Groupe is the third largest communications group in the world, offering the full range of services and skills: digital (Digitas, Razorfish, Rosetta, VivaKi, LBi), 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 58,000 professionals.