Cheil Worldwide acquires U.S. digital ad firm

SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- Cheil Worldwide Inc., South Korea's largest advertising
agency, said Thursday it has signed a deal to buy The Barbarian Group LLC, a U.S.
interactive marketing firm.
The U.S. company's clients include General Electric Co., Apple Inc. and Google
Inc. It is recognized as an innovative agency in the global advertising industry,
Cheil said.
Cheil said the acquisition will allow it to expand its business in line with
global demand, which currently revolves around digital and integrated marketing.
Last year, the South Korean company took over Beattie McGuinness Bungay, a
British advertising agency recognized worldwide for its offline marketing
projects.
"Our company is now one step closer to joining the ranks of the world's top 10
advertising companies by 2012," said Kim Nack-hoi, CEO and president of Cheil.
Cheil, with 29 branches in 25 countries, is ranked as the world's 16th largest
advertising firm by the U.S. marketing and media magazine Advertising Age.
ecuedy@yna.co.kr
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