• by Steve McClellan , December 15, 2015

Dentsu Aegis Network’s mcgarrybowen has established a presence in France with the acquisition of an agency that specializes in luxury strategy and advertising—Same Same but different. That name will change and the acquired shop will serve as the core of a new luxury unit for mcgarrybowen. Terms of the acquisition weren’t disclosed.

Same Same was founded in 2009 and has a staff of 150 in offices across Paris, New York and Hong Kong. Clients include Louis Vuitton, Van Cleef & Arpels, Piaget, Coach, Bonpoint, Chow Sang Sang, L’Oréal, Printemps, and Aéroports de Paris.

Michel Campan, current CEO & founder of SAME SAME but different, will become CEO of mcgarrybowen luxury, reporting directly to Thierry Jadot, CEO Dentsu Aegis Network France, Benelux, MENA and Israel.

According to the agency, the acquisition is part of  its strategy to expand its client offering by launching new offices in the top creative talent centers around the world. SAME SAME joins mcgarrybowen’s growing international network, which currently includes offices in London, Shanghai, Singapore, and São Paulo, in addition to its U.S. offices in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and a multicultural offering in San Antonio.

Gordon Bowen, mcgarrybowen’s Founder and Global Chairman, said that SAME “has a remarkable growth story fueled by superior capabilities and a strong record of memorable work for iconic brands. This new offering will allow us to provide clients with deep expertise and ahead-of-the-market insights into the luxury sector.”