PublicisGroupe, one of the largest communications group in the world, has announced its acquisition of Dubai-based digital agency network Flip Media.

PublicisGroupe boasts of major networks including Leo Burnett, MSLGroup, PHCG (Publicis Healthcare Communications Group), Publicis Worldwide, Rosetta and Saatchi & Saatchi.

Commenting on the deal, Tom Bernardin, the CEO of Leo Burnett Worldwide said, “Flip Media is a strategic and cultural fit for our company, and we believe its service offering of digital strategy, design, production and content delivery will be a perfect complement to the incredibly strong digital presence we have built across the region.”

As per the agreement, Flip Media will be folded into Leo Burnett Worldwide and will retain its name. Its co-founders, Martin Diessner and Dinesh Lalvani, will continue to be involved with the new entity as non-executive directors, while Yousef Tuqanwill will remain the CEO, reporting to Leo Burnett’s Mena CEO, Raja Trad.

“This acquisition is the logical next step for Flip,” said Lalvani and Diessner. “Integrating with a large network gives us the opportunity to provide a strong foundation for hrough-the-line communications strategy with digital at its core," they stated.

Founded in 2003, Flip Media has more than 100 employees across the Middle East and India, working on a number of iconic brands, said the co-founders.

We’ve been lucky to have the talent and dedication of a strong management team, which has been integral to the success we’ve had. Being part of Leo Burnett and the larger PublicisGroupe family will bring with it access to more clients, people and resources, all of which are key to take a company like ours to the next level,” they added.

"Leo Burnett's commitment to all its partners is to deliver a complete communication solution across all communication channels,” remarked Trad.

“Today’s acquisition of Flip Media not only strengthens our offering but, more importantly, represents an important investment in strengthening our digital offering for the benefit of our clients’ businesses. Our mission is to ingrain digital thinking into every aspect of Leo Burnett's work and culture," he noted.

"With Flip Media's outstanding track record in their space, we are confident that all of our clients will appreciate our strategic plan to be an unquestionable leader in digital communication," he added.-TradeArabia News Service