Publicis Groupe acquires Interactive Communications Ltd. in Taiwan

Publicis Groupe today said that it has signed an agreement to acquire Interactive Communications Ltd (ICL), a top Taiwan public relations and social media consultancy.

The acquisition of ICL is Publicis Groupe's fourth in Asia for the MSLGROUP network in the past five months.

For the past seven years, ICL has been an affiliate of MSLGROUP, Publicis Groupe's flagship specialty communications, PR and events network. MSLGROUP Greater China is a top five international PR agency with eight offices and 225 staff across Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

ICL will be aligned under MSLGROUP and will be renamed ICL MSL. The transaction is subject to the approval of the Investment Commission of the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Taiwan.

Founded in 1998 ICL,  which has 30 communications professionals, has worked for companies across more than 25 different sectors, and clients include Procter & Gamble, The Coca-Cola Company, Sony, and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

ICL was recently recognised at Campaign Asia-Pacific's 2010 'Digital Media Awards' for its social media work for Hong Kong Tourism Board.

Following the acquisition, the agency will continue to be led by founders Cindy Chou, who serves as chair of ICL MSL, and Mario Fang, managing director. Both leaders have more than 15 years of experience in the marketing industry. Cindy Chou was named Taiwan CEO of the year in 2009 and 2010 by BRAIN magazine, Taiwan's leading marketing and technology publication.

Both Cindy Chou and Mario Fang will join the MSLGROUP Greater China Management Board, and Cindy Chou will henceforth report to Glenn Osaki, President, MSLGROUP Asia.