Dentsu Aegis Network announces acquisition of Happy Creative Services

BestMediaInfo.com story on September 27 about this acquisition stands vindicated following the formal announcement. Happy which will join the global mcgarrybowen network of agencies and be rebranded as Happy mcgarrybowen

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Delhi | October 10, 2016

Kartik Iyer, Ashish Bhasin, Praveen Das (L-R)

The BestMediaInfo.com story 'Dentsu Aegis Network to acquire Happy Creative Services' ultimately proved to be correct with the formal announcement by the company this morning. Immediately after the story was published on September 27, both the companies denied the news stating it was premature to write about the acquisition at that point of time. However, as it always has been, BestMediaInfo.com trusted its sources and stood by its information that was validated after two weeks.

According to the press statement, Dentsu Aegis Network has signed a definitive agreement to acquire creative marketing agency Happy Creative Services which will join the global mcgarrybowen network of agencies and be rebranded as Happy mcgarrybowen.

With the acquisition, Happy's co-founder and CEO Kartik Iyer, and co-founder and MD Praveen Das will join the Dentsu Aegis leadership team in India reporting to Ashish Bhasin, Chairman and CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network South Asia.

The Bangalore-based creative agency was founded in 2007 and boasts of a strong client base including names like Flipkart, Myntra, Ola, GoDaddy, Lee among others. Regarded as one of the most promising independent creative outfits in India, Happy boasts a staff of 100 across three disciplines – Brand Design, Integrated Brand Communication and Digital, building and rejuvenating brands through media agnostic ideas, customised to deliver on key business and brand metrics.

Bhasin said, “Happy has carved out a very strong digital and creative reputation in the Indian market. Founders Kartik Iyer and Praveen Das – who are among Fortune India's 40 Under 40, are prominent and well-respected figures in the industry, and this acquisition will add creative bench strength to the wider team. This will enable us to launch mcgarrybowen in India and we will be another step closer to our mission of being the second largest agency group by the end of 2017 in India, overturning for the first time the existing ranking which has historically been in place for over 80 years in the market.”

Gordon Bowen, mcgarrybowen Founder and Global Chairman, said, “India is an important creative market that boasts world-class talent and an enviable group of multi-national clients, both of which represent untapped potential for mcgarrybowen. We knew that successfully expanding in this very competitive market required finding great partners that share our passions and values. With a respected reputation and well awarded creative offering, Happy is just that kind of partner and I am proud to welcome them into the mcgarrybowen family.”

“Like us, Kartik and Praveen believe in the power of big organising ideas, collaboration and strong client partnerships. Together I am confident we will fuel even greater creative and business success for clients here in India and around the world,” he added.

“It has taken us a good nine years to come this far in terms of talent, business and reputation,” said Iyer and Das in a joint press statement. “There comes a time in every business to take a big leap to propel it to the next level and being a part of Dentsu Aegis and mcgarrybowen supports this growth ambition and provides us with the right platform. We are presently working with a number of marquee clients that require the support of a global network and we have always been clear that Happy should to equip itself to compete with the biggest players on the largest stage. In mcgarrybowen we found a true match in philosophy and belief and being a part of their vision makes us truly proud.”

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Info@BestMediaInfo.com