WPP has acquired a minority stake through a capital investment in a new German digital-first agency, OH-SO Digital as part of WPP’s ongoing targeted M&A strategy.
The agency launches on 1 March in Hamburg and Prague, with further planned outposts in Berlin and Munich. OH-SO Digital will partner with clients to combine marketing, commerce and technology to co-create digital products, platforms and software.
Founded by industry veteran Mattes Schrader, the agency’s founding leadership team is made up of digital experts with experience from agencies including Accenture Interactive, Accenture Song, C3 and Diconium.
Mark Read, CEO of WPP, said: ‘We’re excited to support the ambition of OH-SO Digital to provide brands with ideas that leverage technology to deliver transformative growth. Our long-term commitment is clear: to position OH-SO Digital as an important growth partner for our clients in Germany, our third largest market.‘
Mattes Schrader, Founder and CEO of OH-SO Digital, said digitisation hasn’t boosted most companies’ market shares in the last decade, often leaving them trailing. Despite this, marketing decision-makers are increasingly responsible for sales and technical platforms in addition to communication channels.
‘As traditional lines blur between communication, sales, products, and services, GenAI introduces a novel dynamic at every level. This offers an extraordinary chance to craft radical new solutions, positioning the marketing function as the critical growth engine,’ he said.
Featured image: Canva Studio / Pexels