Scholz & Friends
Scholz & Friends Group GmbH is one of the largest advertising agencies in Europe. The agency was founded in 1981 by Jürgen Scholz, Uwe Lang and Michael Menzel in Hamburg. The group also includes companies with PR and other communication services. The headquarters are located in Hackescher quarters in Berlin-Mitte and in the Hanseatic Trade Center in Hamburg. Scholz & Friends belongs to Commarco, which was acquired in April 2011 by WPP Group.
History
1985 sold the founder of the agency to the international network Bates - which in turn was sold to Saatchi & Saatchi and Cordiant in the same year. Jürgen Scholz moved in 1992 back from the management. 2003 acquired approximately 40 executives in the face of an imminent takeover ownership of the company through a management buyout. The small investors were resigned by the squeeze-out.
Presence
Today, " Scholz & Friends " about 800 employees at various locations in Europe. The group has offices in Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf and branches in several major European cities (eg Prague, Rome, Warsaw and Zurich ).
As part of a strategic alliance Scholz & Friends worked occasionally with Lowe Worldwide. Lowe Worldwide represented Scholz & Friends on international markets where the agency group itself was not represented, particularly in Asia and North and South America. Since April 2011, Scholz & Friends is part of the global communications holding company WPP.
The turnover in 2007 was around 77 million euros. After the union with the United Visions AG she was temporarily represented on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, to make themselves independent of the Cordiant group present in the economic decline. Since November 2005, the company is listed on any stock exchange and more.
The agency has repeatedly won creative awards such as " lion ", various ADC nails or Clio.
In the Berlin branch of the agency Scholz & Friends Berlin GmbH, 2012, a council was elected for the first time. This was apparently a reaction to layoffs in 2011.
Known campaigns ( selection)
- Initiative New Social Market Economy
- " The power of two hearts " (Double Heart)
- " The new heart of Europe" (Stuttgart 21)
Criticism
Been criticized by the Agency in March 2012, as found on Twitter and Facebook a never published steakhouse chain advertising from 2009 made their way into the public. Slogans such as " tofu meat is gay " and "If you do not want to eat animals, then why are they made of meat? " the agency had received a silver award introduced at the annual awards ceremony of the ADC 2009, but have been criticized as tasteless, homophobic or macho.