Interpublic merges its branding groups

Interpublic Group is bolstering the international strength of Springpoint by merging sister consultancy Luxon Carrà into it.

The move will give Springpoint the international network of offices it was promised when IPG acquired it in April (DW 27 September).

‘It makes sense to enhance the development of Springpoint as an international firm,’ says chief executive of Golin/ Harris International Rich Jernstedt. IPG-owned public relations firm Golin/ Harris acquired Springpoint in April.

The new group will compete with IPG stablemate FutureBrand, Jernstedt says.

Springpoint opened a Hong Kong office in September and declared its intention to open a second Asia Pacific office and another in New York. Jernstedt says the merger will facilitate further expansion.

‘We have a hunger for offices around the world and are looking for a presence in Asia and the US very quickly,’ says chief executive of the newly-formed group Fiona Gilmore. ‘[Luxon Carrà] is a like-minded group with resources in other countries.’

The new group will initially have offices in London, Hong Kong and Hamburg, as well as a ‘small unit’ in San Francisco, Jernstedt says.

The consultancy is still to be named, but will be known as Springpoint Luxon Carrà in the interim, says global director of corporate brand and communications David Rowson. ‘We are looking at several possibilities in the next few weeks,’ says Gilmore.

Redundancies at both consultancies will be kept to a minimum, but ‘one or two’ people will be made redundant from Springpoint, Gilmore says. It is too early to say if there will be any at Luxon Carrà, says Rowson.

The are no client conflicts between the groups, Gilmore claims. Collective clients include Unilever, Vodafone and Lufthansa.