MUMBAI: Publicis Groupe has signed an agreement to acquire majority stake in the communication agency and the technology communications leader, 20:20 Media, and in the social media consulting firm, 2020Social.

Subject to the approval of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), the acquired entities will become part of MS&LGroup, Publicis Groupe‘s flagship PR and events network.
 
Founded in 1989, 20:20 Media is a public relations that employs more than 140 staff across its offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune.

2020Social, meanwhile, was founded in 2009 and focuses on strategy and advisory services for C-suite executives, marketers and PR directors, and provides technology development, campaign management and evaluation.
 
 
20:20 Media and 2020Social will each operate independently alongside MS&LGroup‘s existing multi-discipline communications agency in India, Hanmer MS&L.

The three agency operations will be united under the common MS&LGroup India brand. The operations of each agency remain independent as distinct business units, but will be directed by a common India business strategy and management Board. This board will be chaired by MS&LGroup asia president Glenn Osaki, and other. Members will include Sunil Gautam and Jaideep Shergill representing Hanmer MS&L, Sunil Agarwal and Chetan Mahajan representing 20:20 Media and 2020Social, as well as other representatives from MS&LGroup.
 
Said MS&LGroup CEO Olivier Fleurot, "These two acquisitions give us unrivalled strength in terms of scale, specialist expertise and talent. MS&LGroup is in the best position to provide emerging global Indian brands and leading multinationals investing in India with a full range of services that are truly best-in-class."