Accenture Interactive to Bolster Creative Capabilities by Acquiring Kolle Rebbe

Accenture  has entered into an agreement to acquire Kolle Rebbe, one of Germany’s leading creative agencies, known for its digital-first approach. 

The Hamburg-based agency will become part of Accenture Interactive and strengthen its ability to create and deliver integrated brand experiences for clients in Germany and across other geographies. 

The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1994, Kolle Rebbe delivers brand-building campaigns that combine award-winning creative with a dedicated focus on digital customer interaction. It is responsible for some of the most-recognised campaigns in recent years in Germany, such as Google´s “Life is a Search,” Lufthansa’s #sayyestotheworld, Audi´s “Next Level Luxury,” the campaign for Ritter Sport, which has been running successfully for ten years, as well as the launch of Netflix programs, Narcos and Better Call Saul.

Kolle Rebbe creates cross-channel advertising campaigns and digital content for clients across various industries, including brands such as Audi, DAZN, Netflix and TUI Cruises. Trade publication W&V ranked Kolle Rebbe the seventh largest independent agency in Germany by revenue, while Horizont ranked Kolle Rebbe #4 in its list of the most creative agencies in Germany in 2018. The agency employs approximately 300 artists, designers, digital designers, technologists, concept engineers and copywriters at its Hamburg headquarters.

“While Accenture Interactive already works for many leading brands in Germany, we know that propelling our future growth requires expanding our portfolio of marketing and digital services to deliver even more innovative customer experiences to our clients,” says Matthias Schrader, head of Accenture Interactive, Germany. "Together with Kolle Rebbe, we will have the ability to deliver end-to-end brand experiences, from activation in traditional media to targeting in programmatic channels and personalised content and e-commerce. Acquiring Kolle Rebbe advances our global strategy to bolster Accenture Interactive’s creative footprint and talent in the market.”  

“With the addition of Kolle Rebbe to the Accenture Interactive team, we will greatly strengthen our ability to create, build and run the greatest customer experiences for our clients in Germany,” said Anatoly Roytman, head of Accenture Interactive in Europe, Africa, Middle East and Latin America. “The Kolle Rebbe team and their robust capabilities will complement and enhance our presence in Germany, and inject a greater level of creativity and data-driven experiences that we can deliver to our clients.”

Fabian Frese, chief creative officer, Kolle Rebbe, added: “The advertising market in Germany is undergoing significant change. Clients are increasingly looking for agencies with global reach and a full-service portfolio from ideation to execution. However, one thing remains unchanged: creative ideas still matter. We believe that, as part of Accenture Interactive, we will have a stronger impact by blending creativity with strategy and technology to create truly differentiating brand experiences. By joining the Accenture Interactive family, we will also bring new exciting opportunities to our employees.”

Kolle Rebbe is Accenture’s third recent acquisition in Germany. In January 2018, Accenture Interactive acquired Mackevision, a leading producer of computer-generated imagery and immersive content. In June 2018, Accenture acquired strategic design consultancy designaffairs to join its Industry X.0 team. In 2017, Accenture Interactive acquired a majority stake in digital agency SinnerSchrader. Kolle Rebbe is part of a series of moves that Accenture Interactive has made globally to strengthen its creative capabilities, including the addition of agencies such as Karmarama in the U.K, Rothco in Ireland, and The Monkeys in Australia.