Publicis agencies Kekst and CNC merge, including two UAE offices
Kekst and CNC, two Publicis Groupe communications firms, have announced that they have combined to create Kekst CNC, with 12 offices around the world. A statement from the new firm says it “provides clients with a significantly broader range of capabilities and seamless access to highly experienced corporate communications professionals in key markets around the world”.
Kekst CNC has two offices in the region, in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and conducts strateigic consultancy work for clients based in Saudi Arabia. Dubai is the regional headquarters, run by Middle East managing director David Kingsmill-Moore.
For nearly two decades, Kekst and CNC have partnered on cross-border engagements, and are now formalising and deepening their relationship to address the growing global demands of their worldwide client base, said the statement. Kekst CNC’s clients include a broad range of public and private companies, institutions, alternative investment firms and non-profit organisations from virtually every sector of the global economy.
Combined, it is now the number one advisory firm globally in a few specialist areas such as shareholder activism, said an agency spokesperson. Globally, the newly combined firm would have ranked second in the global Merger and Acquisitions Communications Advisory league table for 2017 – after Sard Verbinnen but above Brunswick.
Kekst CNC has more than 250 strategic communications professionals who will serve more than 600 clients across offices in New York, Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt, London, Tokyo, Brussels, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Seoul, and Stockholm, where the firm will continue to operate as JKL.
In addition, Kekst CNC has announced that it has established a presence in the Greater China region with an office in Hong Kong.
Kekst CNC will be co-led by Jeremy Fielding and Bernhard Meising, the current CEOs of Kekst and CNC respectively.
“Kekst CNC’s narrative maintains a sharp focus on client growth, transformation and protection,” said Kingsmill-Moore. “All our work is driven by the successful and measurable delivery of one or all of these objectives, and of course they align closely with the goals of the Middle East region.”