MUMBAI: Publicis Groupe has acquired 100 per cent stake in New York based full service digital agency Rokkan Media LLC.

This is the group’s third acquisition in New York, having earlier acquired stake in luxury advertising agency AR New York on 4 December and in Outside Line on 13 December. These acquisitions have been made as a result of Publicis’ strong commitment to growth within the US market and the rapidly growing digital sector.

Rokkan will operate as an autonomous unit within Publicis Groupe, and its co-founders — CEO John Noe, chief experience officer Chung Ng, and chief creative officer Charles Bae — will continue to lead the agency.

The name Rokkan comes from the Japanese word for intuition or “sixth sense”. Founded in 2000, the agency focuses its expertise on creating innovative campaigns with strong cross-platform appeal in e-commerce, loyalty programs, digital marketing, mobile and social media. Rokkan‘s core services include strategy and planning, user experience, visual design, technology, 3D and motion graphics, marketing, game/app development and emerging media. The agency employs 70 professionals.

Rokkan serves a list of brands that include JetBlue Airways (aviation), Nestlé Purina PetCare, Sharp Electronics, Bethesda Softworks (gaming), Chipotle Mexican Grill (restaurant chain), Caesars Entertainment (hotels and casinos), Dish Networks (satellite broadcasting), and Stolichnaya Vodka.

Noe, Bae and NG said in a statement, “This is a major stepping stone that will take Rokkan to the next level and beyond. We‘ve seen a number of potential buyers over the years, but it wasn‘t until we met with the folks at Publicis Groupe that we found a partnership we truly believed in. Joining Publicis Groupe gives Rokkan access to resources, capabilities and knowledge to better scale, grow and service our multinational clients. Furthermore, it will help support Rokkan’s aggressive plans for domestic and global growth. We‘re thrilled to be joining a company that believes in our culture, people and vision.”

Publicis has announced that it intends to transform itself into a ‘Human Digital Company’ and that 50 per cent of its overall revenues will be from its digital busbiness. In the United States, the group’s revenue derived from digital has reached nearly 50 per cent.