Artefact – an independent, European marketing group – has launched in the UK today, bringing together 120 UK staff across consultancy, in-house data technology and media activation through a single P&L.
The agency group, built on the acquisition of 4Ps Marketing and 30 new hires in data and consultancy, describes itself as an agency of “marketing engineers” due to its focus on data and AI.
Tom Cijffers will be joining Artefact as UK CEO, following almost two years at Zenith as UK MD and three years at MediaCom USA as chief client officer.
“We’re free of the constraints of the traditional holding groups; we work with a single P&L in complete transparency and trust,” Cijffers said.
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“We also develop our own tech, with 10 percent of our annual net income reinvested into R&D. As such, we occupy a strategic middle ground between the networks and the management consultancies, and unlike some of the newer players, we are actually doing all of this now.”
Meanwhile, Artefact’s global chief activation officer, Frédéric Joseph, said: “We bring something new to a market that’s crying out for a fresh approach. While there are businesses emerging that are now starting to challenge conventions, we don’t think anyone else has cracked it as of yet.
“The move into the UK provides a strong statement of intent for the next stage in Artefact’s evolution: we want to help the world’s biggest brands achieve their ambitions and shake up the sector in the process. While we already have a strong presence in mainland Europe, we have every intention of becoming the biggest indie in the world.”
The group plans to generate €100m GM globally by 2020, operating with over 1,000 employees across 26 offices in 18 countries. Its key clients include Hertz, Nissan, Selfridges, Habitat, The While Company and Wyndham Hotels.
