CHICAGO: MS&L's Chicago office is absorbing Publicis Dialog's local outpost. Both firms are part of French parent company Publicis Groupe SA.
"The idea is to grow the business" by bringing additional resources to MS&L, said Nancy Brennan, MS&L's Chicago MD.
The two offices have already worked on some joint clients, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dialog moved into Chicago in January 2000, buying local agency Selz/Seabolt Communications. However, Dialog's profile in Chicago remained relatively low during the recession that followed its purchase of Selz.
Rose Ann Anschuetz joined the agency in late 2000 to run the Dialog Chicago office.
Anschuetz will stay on for a transition period and leave the agency in January, after Dialog's staff has completed its move. Brennan will oversee the merged office.
Twelve Dialog Chicago staffers are making the transition to MS&L, and no layoffs are planned, Brennan said. The combined office will have about 45 employees.
