Interpublic Monday announced it has acquired majority control of S2Publicom, ranked among the top five public relations firms in Brazil. The operation will represent an important part of Weber Shandwick and Golin Harris growth plans in the region. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

S2Publicom was formed last year by the merger of S2 and Publicom, two major public relations firms that have been operating in the country for more than two decades, both of which were affiliates of Weber Shandwick and Golin Harris.

The firm has two offices in Sao Paulo and one in Rio de Janeiro. It employs 125 professionals with broad communications and media relations expertise, as well as specialists in crisis management, media training and digital communications.  

S2Publicom has been at the center of marketing communications in Brazil, providing clients with strategic communications insights and counsel in multiple sectors such as corporate, consumer, technology and healthcare. McDonald's, Petrobras, HTC and Gol Airlines are among the agency's long-standing clients.  

Jose Luiz Schiavoni, one of S2Publicom's founding partners, will continue to lead the company as CEO. Schiavoni has been a pioneer in the public relations industry in Brazil.

Schiavoni commented; "Through S2Publicom’s long association as an affiliate partner with Weber Shandwick and Golin Harris, the company’s agencies have built a relationship of mutual trust. The experience of bringing the best thinking to clients has demonstrated that the company’s business philosophies and styles are a good fit.”  

Harris Diamond, chief executive officer of Interpublic's Constituency Management Group commented:  "Interpublic’s successful past collaborations with S2Publicom convinced the company that they are the right partners to help Weber Shandwick and Golin Harris support their multinational clients and to continue to build a great business together in what is clearly one of the world's fastest growing economies.”

“Brazil is one of the largest consumer markets in the world, and as it plans to host the FIFA World Cup™ 2014 and the 2016 Olympic Summer Games, the company sees great opportunities to build its presence in the market," said Diamond.   

Interpublic's Constituency Management Group includes Weber Shandwick, Golin Harris and other companies with operations in Brazil including FutureBrand and Octagon.

Interpublic is one of the world's leading organizations of advertising agencies and marketing services companies.

Weber Shandwick is a leading global public relations agency with offices in 74 countries around the world.

26th Sept. 2011