Chime agency De Facto Communications completes MBO

The move to independence for the agency is due to a need to ‘refocus on core capabilities’ in the wake of the Bell Pottinger management buyout.

De Facto was formerly part of Open Health, which is 51% owned by Chime.

The agency will be headed by a senior management team of managing partner Tristan Jervis alongside Alex Heeley, co-partner, who is now director of strategy. It will comprise four main divisions running across digital, branding and design, scientific writing and PR.

Jervis said: ‘With Chime and Bell Pottinger moving in separate directions, we felt this was the perfect time to refocus De Facto on its core healthcare and life sciences capabilities.

'Increasingly our clients are turning to us for a broader range of services in response to the need to communicate more widely with patients and consumers, in addition to traditional scientific, business and healthcare audiences. 

'Moving forward, we will be looking to grow organically and are particularly focused on helping companies we believe are contributing positively in the healthcare and life sciences arena both in Europe and the US.'