The latest deal forms a creative communications powerhouse
MHP Group, the leading integrated communications consultancy, has acquired Studio La Plage, the award-winning multidisciplinary creative agency.
The move builds on the success of MHP Group’s existing Studio team and creates a market-leading creative content capability as part of a full-service communications offer.
La Plage began as a Shoreditch gallery, before launching as a Studio that combined art and data science to deliver outstanding creative work.
The team specialise in four sectors, which are highly complementary to MHP Group’s client portfolio, including Health, Financial Services, Technology and Luxury. Their clients include Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, BlackRock and Pottermore Publishing.
The acquisition is part of MHP Group’s accelerated growth strategy, which last year saw the agency invest in new specialist capabilities, including Change and Employee Engagement and Brand Strategy team ‘Reverb’.
The combined Group will have annual revenues of approximately £40million and a portfolio of 220 clients. The teams have already worked successfully together on projects including the national recruitment campaign “Destination Nuclear”, which launched last month.
The agency will rebrand as ‘La Plage, part of MHP Group’. The 30-strong team will relocate to MHP Group’s Great Portland Street offices. Studio La Plage was advised by M&A Advisory.
Commenting on the deal, MHP Group CEO Alex Bigg said:
“I’m excited to welcome the La Plage team to MHP Group. They are an exceptionally talented group of people, and share our belief in craft, collaboration and client focus.
“Creativity has been at the heart of our growth story in recent years, and this deal accelerates our evolution as a business.
“By combining our expertise in earned, brand strategy, digital strategy and behavioural science with their world-class creative storytelling capabilities and data-led planning approach, we can offer clients something truly unique.”
Head of La Plage, Matthew Francis, added:
“For over a decade, La Plage has grown in recognition as a creative partner to some of the world’s most forward-thinking organisations. It’s now time to take La Plage to the next level and MHP Group’s focus on behavioural science and creative execution makes them the perfect home for us.
“Joining MHP Group enables us to offer clients even greater depth, scale and creative diversity. MHP has industry-leading specialists in our key verticals, including Health and Finance, while the Mischief team’s reputation for connecting brands with passionate communities will enhance our work in luxury, tech and the creative industries.”