WNP will be first in series of planned
acquisitions for The Anomaly Alliance as Stagwell expands
throughout Europe and
beyond
NEW
YORK, Feb. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --
Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), the challenger network built to
transform marketing, has reached an agreement to acquire WHAT'S
NEXT PARTNERS (WNP), a French digital brand and marketing
consultancy specializing in data-powered strategies, integrated
communications, and creative content.
WNP will become the first co-branded member
of the Anomaly Alliance.
WNP will become the first co-branded member of the Anomaly
Alliance in a partnership model designed to expand Anomaly's global
footprint beyond its existing offices in New York, Los
Angeles, Toronto,
London, Berlin, and Shanghai.
WNP is one of the leading digital creative firms in Europe, exemplified in its work for clients
such as Cora, Danone, Ecoutier Voir, Meetic Europe, and Savencia.
WNP will deepen Anomaly's presence in Europe and add capabilities in scaled digital
content and AI-enabled CRM and data, as well as the leadership
in-market to compete for and service larger European accounts.
"Anomaly continues to surge around the world because clients
resonate with our relentless pursuit of effectiveness, the
leveraging of the widest possible meaning of 'creativity' across
all marketing tools, and our entrepreneurial ambition. That
equation is not easily replicable and, as we expand across
continents, it's essential our clients know our partners exemplify
what it means to be an anomaly," said Carl
Johnson, Anomaly Founding Partner and Executive Chairman.
"In What's Next Partners, we have found kindred spirits in
Europe, and I could not be more
excited to welcome them to our team."
Guy Chauvel, Founder and CEO of
WNP, brings an exceptional track record of creative leadership to
the partnership, with prior tenures as EVP of J. W. T., the
3rd largest global agency, and CEO of Europe at Havas. He has directly advised on
marketing and/or communication strategies for a variety of
blue-chip companies including P&G, L'Oréal, Unilever, Rolex,
Disney, and more. He will drive the creation of new client
solutions for WNP and the Anomaly Alliance with Carl Johnson, leveraging the breadth and depth
of the Stagwell portfolio.
"Advertisers we are talking to or working with are pushing us to
go international. We have always kept a close eye on Anomaly over
the past 15 years as a source of inspiration and are fascinated by
their model and culture," said Guy
Chauvel. "When the decision came to choose our new partner,
Anomaly was the obvious choice. I am thrilled they agreed. We were
also very impressed when meeting a committed, open-minded, and
disruptive Stagwell executive team, and are excited to grow further
as part of the network."
"2023's exceptional new business pipeline made it clear
Stagwell's proposition resonates with clients," added Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO, Stagwell. "We're
all-in on expanding our unique tech-forward approach to
transforming marketing in France
and Europe more broadly. In 2024,
we're excited to welcome tested leaders like WNP and Guy and to
build a best-in-class European team to support our clients and our
talent."
Currently, Anomaly has offices in New
York, Los Angeles,
Toronto, London, Berlin and Shanghai. Further acquisitions for the Anomaly
Alliance will follow ranging from Latin
America to Asia
Pacific.
WNP will mark Stagwell's third acquisition announced in 2024
following the purchase of Team Epiphany, a culturalist creative
agency connecting brands to multicultural consumers, in
January 2024; and Sidekick, a
creative collective in the U.K., in February
2024.
Lazare Consulting LLC served as the exclusive strategic M&A
advisor to WNP.
About Stagwell
Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) is the challenger network built to
transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the
world's most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity
with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of
marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our specialists in 34+ countries
are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and
improve business results for their clients. Join us at
www.stagwellglobal.com
About What's Next Partners
WNP has grown to be one of the leading independent players on
the French market thanks to the successful integration of varied
talents and skillsets such as consumer intelligence, strategic
planning, creative advertising campaigns, digital content
production, social media & influence, CRM & data analytics,
and brand/product marketing innovation. Among its active client
portfolio, WNP has gained the trust of large national and
international advertisers such as: Danone, Meetic
Europe, LVMH, Panzani, Savencia, La Poste, Ecouter Voir, Cora,
La Centrale, BASF, Maaf."
CONTACT:
Sarah Arvizo
pr@stagwellglobal.com
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stagwells-stgw-anomaly-alliance-enters-agreement-to-acquire-french-digital-shop-whats-next-partners-as-it-accelerates-global-expansion-302071038.html
SOURCE Stagwell Inc.