Cubed moves in with Publicis Worldwide Australia
Cubed Communications is to move into the offices of Publicis Worldwide.
The announcement:
Publicis Worldwide Australia has today announced a major strengthening of its CRM and digital communications capabilities with the team from award-winning agency Cubed joining Publicis’ ranks.
The new arrangement will see Cubed’s 15 management and staff move into Publicis’ Melbourne offices and become available to Publicis’ clients. In addition Cubed clients will have access to the wider capabilities of the various specialist businesses within the Publicis Worldwide Australia group. The agreement with Cubed has been orchestrated by newly arrived Publicis Worldwide Australia CEO Andrew Baxter, whose plans for the group include a focus on providing full capabilities around end to end consumer engagement for clients and their brands.
Baxter officially took on the leadership of Publicis Worldwide Australia in March this year.
“Cubed’s capabilities and experience will be a welcome addition to the 250 staff we have working at Publicis Loyalty in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane,” said Baxter. “Cubed will retain its name and become a vital conduit to the group’s capabilities in brand and consumer engagement.”
Cubed was founded in 2005 by business partners Kim McDonnell and Mike Chuter who will retain their leadership of the business and report to Baxter. Bakers Delight, Fairfax Digital and Federation University are among Cubed’s major clients and earlier this year the agency won a 2014 Colloquy Award that recognises innovative industry-leading loyalty strategies. The agency handles both business-to-business and business-to-consumer campaigns.
“We were strongly attracted to Publicis because of its extensive customer engagement capabilities and Andrew Baxter’s plans for the future,” said Mike Chuter. “Long lasting and relevant brand and consumer connections created by the clever use of data, targeting and creativity are in high demand from clients and this will only increase into the future.
The agreement between Cubed and Publicis Worldwide Australia is effective immediately.
Source: Publicis media release
Oh hell – they’ve done it again. Understand the reasoning of acquisition, and obviously there is a further vision here to extend network & connections and I sincerely hope it works out for all. But we lived through this 3 times and every time it was a disaster. With only half a dozen people in Melbourne now (how sad) this will increase the head count at least. I don’t know Andrew Baxter – but maybe he can crack it. You know there is an 18 month time limit with Publicis – back it up in that time or you get the arse.