Publicis Groupe is to acquire 75.1% of UK based independent media agency Walker Media for £36 million. M&C Saatchi, the current owner, will retain a 24.9% shareholding. Clients include Marks & Spencer, Dixons Group, KFC, Halfords and Weetabix. Walker Media had gross assets of £49.1m as at 31 December 2012 and operating profit of £5.2m for the 12 months ended 31 December 2012. The deal is expected to complete on 27 November 2013.
Walker Media will become part of the ZenithOptimedia Group.
The Walker Media board will be comprised of:
- Phil Georgiadis, Chairman, Walker Media
- Simon Davis, CEO, Walker Media
- Steve King, CEO, Worldwide, ZenithOptimedia
- Adrian Sayliss, COO, Worldwide, ZenithOptimedia
- David Kershaw, CEO, M&C Saatchi
- Jamie Hewitt, Group Finance Director, M&C Saatchi
The new ZenithOptimedia Group in the UK will be comprised of: Zenith, Optimedia, ZenithOptimedia Worldwide, Walker Media, Performics (digital performance marketing), Newcast (branded content), Ninah (analytics) and Sponsorship Intelligence. The group employs around 500 people.
Steve King, CEO Worldwide, ZenithOptimedia said, “Walker Media is the biggest and most successful independent media agency in the UK and we are absolutely delighted to welcome them to the ZenithOptimedia family. The agency was built and developed on the principle of client centricity and its incredible success is testament to this. I have known Phil Georgiadis for many years and I couldn’t think of a better person to lead our new media network in the UK.”
France, Paris & UK, London
Related articles
- Omnicom Group and Publicis Groupe to merge Posted on July 28, 2013
- Omnicom Media Group China acquires NIM DIGITAL Posted on April 19, 2012
- Omnicom Group’s Diversified Agency Services acquires The Modellers, marketing research firm Posted on February 9, 2011
- Omnicom Group’s Diversified Agency Services acquires licensing agency Nancy Bailey & Associates Posted on January 13, 2011
- Omnicom Group’s Diversified Agency Services acquires The Core, a UK design and communications agency Posted on November 3, 2010
- Omnicom Group’s Diversified Agency Services acquires Excerpta Medica Posted on October 20, 2010
- Omnicom acquires Sales Power Posted on October 20, 2010
- Publicis unveils €3 billion acquisition plan Posted on April 26, 2013
- Publicis Groupe to acquire Neev in India April 18, 2013
- Publicis Groupe acquires Convonix Posted on March 11, 2013
- Publicis Groupe acquires US digital agency Rokkan December 20, 2012
- Publicis Groupe acquires mobile agency Monterosa Posted on December 18, 2012
- Publicis Groupe acquires UK digital agency Outside Line Posted on December 13, 2012
- Publicis Groupe acquires AR New York Posted on December 10, 2012
- Publicis acquires iStrat and MarketGate in India Posted on December 10, 2012
- Publicis Groupe to acquire LBi for €416M Posted on September 21, 2012
- Publicis Worldwide in the USA, and the Kaplan Thaler Group to merge Posted on July 18, 2012
- Publicis Groupe becomes first communications group to enter the Palestinian market through acquisition of an equity stake in Zoom Advertising Posted on June 19, 2012
- Publicis Groupe Acquires Longtuo posted on May 14, 2012
- Publicis Groupe has acquired Indigo Consulting Posted on April 24, 2012
- Publicis Groupe acquires King Harvests and Luminous Posted on March 8, 2012
- Publicis Groupe acquires U-Link Business Solutions Posted on February 24, 2012
- Publicis Groupe full year and fourth quarter results Posted on February 10, 2012
- Publicis Groupe acquires The Creative Factory for Saatchi & Saatchi Russia Posted on January 25, 2012
- Publicis Groupe acquires Mediagong Posted on January 19, 2012
- Publicis Groupe acquires Gomye Posted on December 7, 2011
- Publicis Groupe acquires Chinese digital agency Wangfan Posted on November 2, 2011
- Publicis Groupe acquires Schwartz Communications Posted onSeptember 18, 2011
- Publicis acquires an equity stake in social media agency Big Fuel Posted on July 19, 2011
- Publicis Groupe acquires a majority stake in DPZ Posted on July 19, 2011
- Publicis Groupe takes a majority stake in longterm affiliate Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett Posted on July 6, 2011
- Publicis Groupe to acquire digital marketing agencies Rosetta Posted on May 19, 2011
- Publicis Groupe acquires Beijing-based Dreams Posted on May 12, 2011
- Publicis Groupe acquires Tailor Made April 29, 2011
- Publicis Groupe to acquire GP7 Posted on April 29, 2011
- Publicis Groupe takes a majority Stake in Brazil’s Talent Group Posted on April 21, 2011
- Publicis Groupe sells its stake in Freud Communications Posted on April 21, 2011
- Publicis Groupe acquires healthcare advertising agency Watermelon Posted on March 23, 2011
- Publicis Groupe acquires digital engagement agency Airlock Posted on March 10, 2011
- Publicis Groupe acquires Kitcatt Nohr Posted on March 3, 2011
- Publicis Groupe acquires Interactive Communications Ltd in Taiwan Posted on February 23, 2011
- Publicis Groupe acquires digital content and social media agency Holler for Leo Burnett Posted on February 17, 2011
- Publicis Groupe increases its stake in Wefcos Posted on January 28, 2011
- Publicis Groupe acquires Healthcare Consulting Posted on December 20, 2010
- Publicis Groupe takes majority stake in Brazil’s Andreoli MS&L Posted on December 16, 2010
- Publicis acquires interactive healthcare agency Digital District Posted on December 14, 2010
- Publicis Groupe acquires Eastwei Relations Posted on November 19, 2010
- Publicis acquires G4 Advertising in China Posted on August 29, 2010
- Publicis acquires Brazilian interactive agency AG2 Posted on August 29, 2010
Fusion Corporate Partners 
You must be logged in to post a comment.