Grey buys ArtM Communications Group China

Grey Group Asia Pacific has signed an agreement to acquire, conditional on regulatory approval, a majority stakeholding in ArtM Communications Group, a leading full-service integrated communications company in China.

With a view to accelerating growth in one of the world’s foremost emerging economies, the acquisition will bolster Grey’s service capabilities and presence in China, as well as offer clients access to a wider portfolio of leading-edge multi-disciplinary marketing services supported by some of the most experienced providers in the industry.

Founded in 1999 and with offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzen and Guangzhou, ArtM’s service offering includes advertising, branding, digital marketing, public relations, events, retail marketing, merchandising and channel promotion. The group’s subsidiaries include ArtM PR Consulting, Mercury Advertising, Lightning Digital Marketing, Imaginist Retail Marketing and Noblehorse Website. It employs around 180 people servicing a blue-chip client list including Intel, Microsoft, TCL and China Mobile. The acquisition will see ArtM re-branded as ‘Grey ArtM Marketing Communications’.

James R. Heekin, Chairman and CEO of Grey Group, said, “We are delighted to welcome ArtM to Grey Group. ArtM is a premier total communications agency that personifies our philosophy of ‘Famously Effective’ brand building.”

“With strong and steady economic growth over the past several decades, China has developed into the second-largest advertising market in the world,” said Nirvik Singh, Chairman and CEO of Grey Group Asia Pacific. Adding that Chinese companies are an increasingly significant part of the world’s economic growth engine, Singh highlighted Grey’s commitment to investing in its capabilities in China. “Our latest acquisition signals our promise to clients in the region, that they get the best expertise and world-class professional services required to realize the massive potential in this market. We look forward to working with ArtM to create the strongest offering in the industry.”

“As the global business landscape continues to be redefined, ArtM is focused on building the scale and breadth required to address Chinese clients’ most pressing branding and marketing needs,” explained Guo Hao, CEO and founder of ArtM Communications Group. “Our partnership with Grey will not only strengthen ArtM’s position in the market and gain us access to a global platform, but most importantly help clients capitalize on emerging business opportunities outside of China.”