iNEO exits as Publicis Singapore hires the entire team

Publicis Singapore has hired the entire team of iNeo to start immediately as full-time employees.Dela Pena told Marketing, whilst technically not a merger or acquisition, the iNEO brand will cease to exist now onwards. She also added the agency has made no redundancies to accommodate the new staff.iNEO’s CEO Kelvin Koo has taken over the role of head of digital for Publicis Singapore."We are very happy to welcome Kelvin Koo and his team. They are one of the most dynamic, passionate, and effective digital practitioners I’ve ever met. The combination of their outstanding work and entrepreneurial spirit match the values we have,” Lou Dela Pena, CEO of Publicis Singapore, said.Loris Nold, CEO of Publicis Asia Pacific says “Given the importance of Singapore in our regional platform, this is a key move and a great addition for us. We will continue strenghtening our digital offering across the region, as we want to provide the best solutions to our clients in their digital transformation. ""After a decade of running INEO, I believe that it is time to strategically change our business direction. Creativity now moves at the speed of culture. This move to join Lou and her team is the next level of leading the change for our clients and the industry at large,” Koo said.He adds: “We are surrounded by entrepreneurial and very driven people in Publicis Singapore and this matches our DNA. We are excited to work with Lou Dela Pena and her team to transform Publicis Singapore into an ideas agency with a strong focus on digital. The opportunities are endless.”Dela Pena said the new hires will "change the way the agency approaches every single brief with over 30% of Publicis Singapore now composed of pure-play digital specialists."