FRANCE – Publicis Groupe has announced the acquisition of The Creative Counsel Group (TCC), the largest integrated below-the-line group of agencies in South-Africa, providing marketing and activation solutions to local and international clients.
Founded in 2001 by co-founders and joint CEOs Ran Neu-Ner and Gil Oved, The Creative Counsel Group boasts over 1,500 talented employees and works with top national and international clients such as Unilever, Clover, Vodacom, Microsoft, Brandhouse and Tiger Brands.
This acquisition follows several others by Publicis Groupe in Africa, including Epic Communications in February 2015, as well as AG Partners, Prima, Owenkessel, MACHINE, Brandsrock, Liquorice and Lighthouse Digital in 2014.
According to ZenithOptimedia, South Africa is world’s 8th fastest growing advertising market between 2013 and 2016. Overall, ad expenditure rose by 4.0% last year and further growth of 7.7% is predicted this year.
Complementing the existing structure and expertise of Publicis Groupe’s multi-door operation in Africa, Publicis Africa Group, which now counts agencies across 35 countries, TCC bridges existing digital and traditional disciplines, enabling clients’, brands to reach their consumers wherever they may be.
The Creative Counsel Group will come under the remit of Publicis Groupe’s agency network- Publicis Worldwide – headed by global CEO, Arthur Sadoun. Ran Neu-Ner and Gil Oved will report to Kevin Tromp CEO of Publicis Africa Group.
