Japanese Firm Acquires Mitchell Communications Group

Fayetteville-based Mitchell Communications Group has been acquired by Dentsu Network Inc., according to a news release issued by the Japanese company that touts itself as “the No. 1 agency brand in the world.”

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but MCG CEO Elise Mitchell will join the executive team and operating committee of Dentsu that reports to CEO Tim Andree. Mitchell thus will be responsible for building Dentsu’s global public relations network.

“Elise will lead and direct this important effort for us,” Andree said in the release. “We are confident in her ability to attract other public relations agencies that are like-minded — client-centric, collaborative and entrepreneurial in their approach to the business.”

Mitchell also will maintain her role at MCG, which will remain headquartered in Fayetteville. Sarah Clark, who has worked as the strategic communication firm’s executive vice president and chief strategy officer, has been named president.

“We’re excited to join the No. 1 agency brand and fastest-growing agency network in the world,” Mitchell said in the release. “We’ve been fortunate to experience rapid growth ourselves, and we’ve significantly expanded our capabilities to serve client needs. Becoming a part of Dentsu allows us to offer clients even greater resources and access to innovation, technology and a global presence while maintaining our unique agency culture and intense entrepreneurial spirit.

“It will be a privilege to work with Dentsu going forward to continue serving Mitchell’s clients to the best of our collective abilities, and to attract other agencies to join the Dentsu global public relations network.”

MCG has annual gross revenues of more than $13 million, according to the release, and has 75 full-time employees in addition to a national network of more than 20 project employees located in 14 states. Its client portfolio includes Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Tyson Foods Inc., Hilton Hotels & Resorts and Procter & Gamble.

In September, Inc. magazine named MCG one of the nation’s 5,000 fastest-growing private companies. Ranked No. 768, MCG was credited with 2011 revenue of $11.5 million, which represented three-year growth of 451 percent.

“Mitchell Communications Group has built an exceptional reputation as a thriving midsize firm in the public relations industry for its work with some of the most iconic national and global brands,” Andree said. “Their integrated services offering and singular focus on creating solutions for clients across the enterprise have been major drivers in their rapid growth over the past five years.

“They are just the kind of innovative agency we were looking for to help us highlight the increasing importance of public relations to leading global brands. By acquiring Mitchell Communications, we intend to build out a full-service offering to benefit Dentsu clients globally that now includes public relations.”

Dentsu, which has been in business for 111 years, is headquartered in New York and Tokyo. It has 82 offices in 29 countries.