Havas Play UK Expands with Acquisition of Experiential Agency Bearded Kitten
Havas Play UK has strengthened its experiential marketing capabilities with the acquisition of award-winning agency bearded Kitten. The agency will now operate as Bearded Kitten, part of Havas Play within the Havas Media Network UK.
Founded in 2007,bearded Kitten boasts a portfolio including Netflix,Unilever,and Beavertown,and will now collaborate with existing Havas Media Network UK clients like Red Bull and Disney. The 45-person agency specializes in immersive experience design and theatrical production.
The integration creates a combined team of 200,with Bearded Kitten continuing operations from its existing location. Founder Barney Sutton will join the Havas Play leadership team, reporting to CEO Nick Wright.
“Bearded Kitten consistently ranks among the top experiential agencies worldwide,” said Yannick Bolloré, Chairman and CEO, Havas. “We are thrilled to welcome Barney Sutton and the entire team at Bearded Kitten to the Havas family. Their creativity, craft and proven track record will help us capitalise on the experiential marketing boom. The acquisition of Bearded Kitten is a statement of our ambition to scale our Havas Play offering globally.”
Nick Wright, CEO, Havas Play UK, added, “Experiential has always been front and center in our offering, and with bearded Kitten now part of the team, we can supercharge and scale this even further. Their arrival unlocks bigger, bolder ideas driven by integrated thinking and seamless delivery through one fully connected team. With Bearded Kitten’s award-winning experiential craft and robust in-house production capabilities, we can deliver best-in-class brand experiences at the heart of integrated campaigns, across every brief.”
Subscribe to the Sport Industry Daily for regular updates on the biggest stories and latest news in the sport industry.