Publicis buys Chinese social media provider

Net@lk comprises of four stand-alone business divisions: Net@lk and Simone, providing social media services; Lenx, producing social content; and Buzzreader, engaging in social intelligence including monitoring, research and analytics, covering most social platforms in China, such as Weibo, Renren, Youku, Taobao, and WeChat.

Net@lk and Lenx will be aligned with DigitasLBi and led by existing Net@lk CEO Lamy Zhang who will report to Roy Capon, CEO of DigitasLBi APAC. 

Meanwhile. Simone will be merged with the social media division of Razorfish, strengthening its existing capabilities, and Buzzreader will be aligned with VivaKi.

Vincent Digonnet, executive chairman of Publicis agencies Razorfish and DigitasLBi networks in APAC, said: ‘We are committed to grow our digital marketing capabilities in China on the dual strategic pillars of ecommerce and social media. The acquisition of Net@lk completes our two-pronged strategy making DigitasLBi the leading socially-led digital marketing network in China.’