The acquisition is part of Publicis Groupe plans to double its size in India by 2015.
Indigo Consulting will operate as a unit within the Leo Burnett Group in India and will retain its name. Its founder, Vikas Tandon, will remain as managing director.
Founded in 2000, Indigo Consulting is an award-winning agency that has developed websites, software and digital marketing programmes for clients globally, including HSCB in India, Asia Pacific and Middle East, Loop Mobile, Tata AIG Insurance and Asian Paints.
Tom Bernardin, chairman and CEO of Leo Burnett Worldwide, said Leo Burnett has increased its efforts across Indian in recent years, but added that the potential and opportunities in India are “massive”.
Jarek Ziebinski, president of Leo Burnett Asia Pacific, said the agency’s growth strategy in India and Asia-Pacific is based on the “core pillars” of digital and shopper-marketing.
He said, “India is a key market for us, and it’s reporting explosive growth in the digital sector. We want to make sure Leo Burnett has the right infrastructure in place to meet the needs of tomorrow. I also see Indigo Consulting developing beyond India, to become an important player within our network in Asia Pacific and globally.”
According to ZenithOptimedia, online advertising and marketing represents less than 3 per cent of overall adspend in India, but the sector is forecasted to boom.
ZenithOptimedia estimates that over the next three years, India’s digital adspend will increase by roughly 30 per cent a year, driven by the spread of smartphones and the youth culture of social networks.
