M&C Saatchi Partners with Brazilian Agency Santa Clara

M&C Saatchi has announced it has bought a stake in multi-award-winning Brazilian agency, Santa Clara.

Headed up by Ulisses Zamboni, partner and CEO, and Fernando Campos, partner and CCO, Santa Clara is headquartered in the creative hub of São Paulo.

The Agency has been on an upward trajectory over the last four years with revenues increasing by 50% and has won awards at the Cannes Lions, The One Show, the Effies, and Prêmio De Mídia among many others. Clients include Timberland, Cartoon Network, and Grupo Boticario.

Ulisses Zamboni, partner and CEO at Santa Clara, commented: “Due to the robust growth of the agency over recent years, we felt the need to increase our competitive edge locally by this partnership with an international network. M&C Saatchi will help us to increase our technical capabilities in the digital segment, mobile, CRM and in activation programmes. But most importantly, being part of M&C Saatchi allows us to work locally, in our own way, without losing our identity.”

2015 has already been a busy year in terms of global expansion for M&C Saatchi, which purchased a majority stake in Ben-Natan Golan in Tel Aviv, Israel, in January. The agency also invested in SS+K in New York in November 2014. Meanwhile in the UK M&C Saatchi acquired Lean Mean Fighting Machine, previously Interactive Ad Agency of the Year in Cannes.

Moray MacLennan, Worldwide CEO at M&C Saatchi:  “Alex Ferguson said that he never wanted to buy a player that another club wanted to sell and that is the same approach we take when finding a partner. Santa Clara didn’t want to sell their agency, they wanted to join our Network.  Brazil is a top 5 market in both ad spend and creativity which is why we were so intent on making this investment. M&C Saatchi has at its core clarity of thinking and an entrepreneurial spirit both of which are reflected in Santa Clara. We look forward to our future together.”