Deloitte Digital names new chief creative officer and buys Acne
Deloitte Digital has named its first chief creative officer as former Havas executive creative director Andy Sandoz. The company also acquired Stockholm-based creative agency Acne as part of its strategy to expand into creative marketing. Over the past 12 months it has also acquired international design consultancy Market Gravity and San Francisco-based creative agency Heat.

Havas executive creative director Andy Sandoz has been named as the first chief creative officer of Deloitte Digital, which also announced its acquisition of creative agency Acne today (17 August).

The news proves the consultancy shows no sign of stopping in its bid to take on the creative marketing scene's traditional networks and agencies, having added Market Gravity to its portfolio just two months ago. It snapped up the San Franciscan Heat earlier this year.

Sandoz jumps ship from Havas, where he has held the executive creative director title since 2016. He will be based at Deloitte Digital's studio in Clerkenwell, London.

Sam Roddick, UK head of Deloitte Digital, explained: "As the creative side of our business continues to expand to meet demand, it was important that we appoint someone in the UK to help lead the team."

Sandoz, who founded Work Club in 2007, said he was attracted to the holistic, business-led approach that Deloitte Digital offers clients, which has scope beyond the marketing function.

“My best work-to-date has been using ideas backed by new technologies to help redefine my clients’ businesses for a better future,” he said. “With Deloitte Digital we have the ability, credibility and access to totally transform a business.

“I was impressed with the consultancy’s senior relationships and depth of expertise across multiple industries, our strong cultural fit and shared positive vision. This is an exciting point to become part of Deloitte Digital’s creative development.”

Acquiring Acne

Sandoz will be tasked with leading Deloitte Digital’s full range of creative services for clients in the UK, which includes overseeing the work of new acquisition Acne.

The Stockholm based creative agency, founded in 1996, already works clients such as Ikea, Spotify and H&M. Its new owner plans to hire around 80 new employees for the agency, half of which will be based in London.

Paul Thompson, head of Deloitte Digital for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said: “The acquisition of Acne is an important move towards Deloitte Digital offering a full range of digital and creative services, with clients increasingly looking for a partner with multidisciplinary skills. We aim to deliver our clients’ ambitions, whether that be launching a new strategy, product or service.

"By combining Deloitte’s deep data and technological expertise, with Acne’s exceptional creative experience, together we will help build brands for the digital age."

Its M&A rampage follow similar buys by rival consultancies, with Accenture the most active in recent times having bought Karmarama, Brand Learning, The Monkeys and most recently, Clearhead.

According to research released by Results International around merger and activity during Q2 globally in the marcomms sector, Dentsu was the most active with 16 deals completed during that period.

Watch the consultancies speak about their place in the creative sector in our Postcards from Cannes documentary here.