Mitchell Communications Group Now Open in Chicago, New York

Fayetteville-based Mitchell Communications Group announced Wednesday the opening of new offices in New York and Chicago.

The news comes six months after the company was acquired by Dentsu Network Inc., a Japanese company that touts itself as “the No. 1 agency brand in the world.”

The offices at 32 Avenue of the Americas in New York and at 515 N. State St. in Chicago will help MCG collaborate more closely with partner agencies mcgarrybowen, 360i and others, as Dentsu builds out a full-service offering that now includes public relations.

MCG is led by founder and CEO Elise Mitchell and president Sarah Clark.

“Elise and her team have built a unique and competitive offering that has proven very valuable to clients,” Tim Andree, president and CEO of Dentsu Network, said in a press release. “As part of the Dentsu Network, Mitchell Communications Group can expand its reach and accelerate its growth, serving more clients in more places with their best-in-class approach. The New York and Chicago offices are two great steps forward.”

MCG now has 115 employees – 85 fulltime employees in five states and 30 project employees in 11 states. Each new office will have three employees.

Clark said the expansion is the next natural step for the company.

“We believe there’s an abundance of opportunity to serve clients who want scale and consistency both nationally and around the world,” she said. “We have a lot of momentum, and we’re working hard to keep that going.

MCG, founded in 1995, has increased revenue 530 percent in the last five years. Its client portfolio includes Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Sam’s Club, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Procter & Gamble, J.B. Hunt, Tyson Foods, Southwestern Energy and more.

The Holmes Report tabbed the company the Small Agency of the Year in 2012. PRWeek awarded its Small Agency of the Year honor to MCG in 2011.

Most recently, MCG was named a 2013 Top 10 fastest growing agency globally by The Holmes Report and is listed as a 2013 Top 50 U.S. agency by PRWeek.

“We’re so proud of the opportunities we have to serve our clients – to help them grow their businesses, and connect and engage with their audiences in new and exciting ways,” Elise Mitchell said. “This is what we see as the greatest potential for our future.”

MCG has already transferred some existing employees to staff the new offices, and made several new hires. Those include:

· Sarah Larsen, a former senior vice president with Ogilvy Public Relations, will serve as general manager and senior vice president for the Chicago office;

· Tracy Shea, who has designed digital and social strategies for household brands such as Disney, General Mills, Hard Rock and Pfizer, is vice president of digital and social strategy for the firm. He is in the New York office;

· Dee Bhambhani, previously a senior account supervisor with Hill+Knowlton Strategies, has been named director in the New York office.