In an effort to expand its global footprint, Crispin Porter + Bogusky has acquired London-based The House Worldwide, a global communications network that was founded by former Publicis Worldwide COO Richard Pinder.
Pinder has been named the agency's CEO of U.K. and international, a new role at CP+B. He'll help build up CP+B's global network outside of the U.S., working closely with the agency's management teams in its Scandinavian and Latin American offices.
He'll be working to add more U.K. business to CP+B's London office, as many of the clients are international and the shop is looking to add more U.K. clients. Pinder will also work on the agency's overall management team with CEO Andrew Keller, president Steve Erich and COO Mike Saunter.
"In the U.S., we've been able to build a pretty well-oiled machine to get great work produced," said Chuck Porter, chairman and co-founder of CP+B. "Outside of the U.S. we have terrific creative talent but we haven't built the support for them to enable them to get the kind of clients they want to be working on. Richard and his team are sort of a shortcut to do that. It's an instant management machine to be able to leverage the creatives outside of the U.S."
Pinder and Porter began talks about an acquisition less than a year ago, after meeting at last year's Cannes festival. Over the past four months talks got more serious. Porter declined to disclose terms of the deal or what revenue The House Worldwide could add to CP+B.
The entire London staff of The House Worldwide (approximately 15 employees) will be retained and move into CP+B's office over the next month.
"We’re bringing a global knowledge and a global team and we want to build fame for our London clients," said Pinder.
CP+B in London works on clients like Turkish Airlines, Diesel Watches, Xbox, Milka and Paddy Power. The House Worldwide, on the other hand, works for clients like Levis, Lenovo and Argos.
