Digitas Expands into India, Singapore

Publicis is expanding its Digitas network by rebranding, its India and Singapore-based marketing services unit, previously known as Solutions. The new group will be known as Solutions / Digitas.

The move gives Publicis’ digital marketing brand a strong boost in India and Singapore. Solutions, which was founded in 1995 and acquired by Publicis in 1996, is one of the top marketing services companies in India. Including its headquarters in New Delhi, Solutions has offices in six cities in India, including Mumbai and Bangalore. Digitas’ presence in India was previously limited to its Publicis sister agencies, such as Leo Burnett and Starcom MediaVest Group.

The new entity will be led by Solutions founders Srikant Sastri, who becomes managing director, and Kanika Mathur, who becomes director and president. Both will report to Alan Rutherford, CEO of Digitas Global.

“This decisive step once again illustrates our commitment to establishing a cutting-edge international digital network,” said Rutherford in a statement.

Rutherford, former VP of global media at Unilever, joined Digitas in September and was immediately charged with leading its international expansion. At the time, he cited pan-Asian development as a priority.

Digitas became part of the Publicis network last year after the French holding company purchased it for $1.3 billion.