Publicis Groupe (PUB) has announced its acquisition of China's Communication Central Group, one of the largest independent interactive marketing agency in China.

With 200 employees in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Beijing and Shenzhen, CCG is one of the region's only digital agencies to offer a complete range of in-house services, from creative design to complex technology integration. The company was purchased for an undisclosed sum.

Upon closing, privately-owned CCG will be rebranded Digitas Greater China. This strategic step marks the international roll-out of Digitas in Asia, following its recent deployment in the UK, as well as in France through the acquisition of Business Interactif. Digitas Greater China will continue to service all of CCG's existing clients, as well as Digitas clients with footprints in China. Digitas will also be launching Prodigious Greater China. Prodigious Greater China extends the geographic borders of one of the first-in-market, standalone production company focused on pairing innovation in technology and execution to bring digital creative branding to life.

Under the new structure, CCG CEO Neil Runcieman will become president and managing director of Digitas Greater China. Runcieman, whose digital activities date back to 1995, is the founder of CCG, a unique multi-channel marketing group. David Kenny, chairman and CEO of Digitas, is charged with the global expansion of the Digitas agency brand, and is also a member of the executive committee of Publicis Groupe, where he leads the Groupe's overall digital and interactive strategy. Publicis Groupe acquired Digitas earlier this year as part of a broad strategic expansion into the digital area.

Publicis Groupe has nearly 3,000 employees in more than 100 offices throughout Greater China.