The acquisition comes two years after D'Arcy began a working relationship with Planet and five months after it launched Arc globally. Arc offers direct and database marketing, promotions and trade, retail and interactive marketing.
Arc Asia-Pacific regional director, Steven Palos, said the addition of Planet into the network was a logical step as the two organisations have already worked successfully on a number of major accounts. He cited Philips Lighting and Saab among its cooperative projects.
Palos said Planet would enable Arc to expand its marketing services network in the region. "This is the foundation of a bigger organisation, which will make Singapore our flagship office in the region. Singapore's responsibility will be to provide senior planning resources to other offices but the implementation of any campaign will occur locally, said Palos.
David Ong, the managing director of Planet, will take up the position of Arc Singapore managing director.
Palos also revealed that Arc was close to forging a similar partnership in Hong Kong and that an announcement was likely within the next few months.
"The vision for Hong Kong is similar to Singapore. It has the dual purpose of supporting regional accounts and giving strategic support to our China operations."
He added that Arc would soon be opening offices in Thailand and India.
It currently runs operations in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan and the Philippines.
