New Delhi : Cohn & Wolfe has acquired fast-growing Indian PR firm Six Degrees and its content subsidiary Alphabet Consulting, the latest in a series of investments designed to expand its Asian footprint.
The deal sees the WPP PR firm take a majority stake in Six Degrees, which was founded by former Text 100 execs Zach James and Rishi Seth in 2009. James and Seth become group CEOs, leading the Cohn & Wolfe Six Degrees team of 70 professionals across Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore, and reporting to Cohn & Wolfe global CEO Donna Imperato.
Six Degrees CEO Karan Punia becomes CEO of the new company, reporting to Seth and James. Cohn & Wolfe India CEO Rafi Khan departed the firm earlier this year.
“We believe that Cohn & Wolfe is the best partner for the culture, passion and energy of Six Degrees and Alphabet Consulting,” says Seth. “We are excited to start this new journey to make a bigger play for growth through integrated marketing services.”
Current Six Degrees clients include Amadeus, Cushman & Wakefield, Dalmia Bharat Group, Hughes, Ingersoll Rand and Nokia. The firm was named Asia-Pacific New Consultancy of the Year by the Holmes Report in 2012.
“India is a strategic priority for Cohn & Wolfe, and Six Degrees has the entrepreneurial culture, seasoned talent and drive to succeed that will help us capitalize on the tremendous opportunity for growth here,” said Imperato. “The agency’s presence in Bangalore, the country’s technology hub, and their work in technology, finance and corporate complements the Cohn & Wolfe India team’s extensive lifestyle and consumer experience.”
