New York, NY/Rio De Janeiro, BRAZIL – Sept. 9, 2010 – Octagon, the world’s largest sports and entertainment consulting and activation practice, has expanded its South American footprint by acquiring B2S, the veteran Rio de Janeiro-based sports marketing firm with offices in Rio and Sao Paulo. The move dramatically strengthens Octagon’s client service offering for both marketing and sports representation in light of Brazil’s ascendancy as the "capital" of sports as host of the FIFA World Cup 2014™ and the 2016 Olympic Summer Games.
"B2S has been at the center of sports marketing in Brazil, providing leading edge insights and impeccable activation. This is the melding of two like-minded companies and we are extraordinarily pleased to have them become part of our team," said Octagon President & CEO Rick Dudley, citing B2S’ work with the Brazilian National Team (CBF) and their sports marketing consulting role for major international brands including Itau, Ambev, Vivo, Panini, Red Bull, EA Sports, Andrade Gutierrez, among others.
B2S principal and 10-year industry veteran, Alexandre Leitao, who will become Octagon Brazil President, described the relationship with Octagon as a perfect fit. "We have been operating our agencies on a parallel track," Leitao explained. "We are very excited at the opportunity to align with the global leader in our industry. We have begun immediate collaboration on sponsorship marketing projects for both the FIFA World Cup 2014 as well as the 2016 Olympic Summer Games, and we believe the combination of Octagon’s two decades of experience in these two great events, coupled with our local expertise, will provide an unbeatable resource for sponsors," he added.
Octagon Marketing Americas President, Jeff Shifrin traced the origins of the Octagon/B2S relationship to a positive collaboration on a 2010 FIFA World Cup sponsor pitch. "That success convinced both of us that we were highly compatible and we are very pleased to be one firm today," Shifrin said.
For two decades, corporate leaders have looked to Octagon to provide strategic sports sponsorship consulting in Brazil. The agency manages some of the country’s major sporting events as well as legendary athletes including Brazil national tennis hero Gustavo Kuerten and rising tennis star Tiago Fernandes. In advance of its expansion into Brazil, Octagon conducted a new wave of its proprietary Passion Drivers® research into why Brazil fans are fans, examining fans of football the Olympic Games, basketball, volleyball and tennis. With more than 20 years of football experience around the world, Octagon has provided strategic consulting and activation for more than 30 corporate sponsors of six FIFA World Cup tournaments (six FIFA World Cup 2010 clients in South Africa) and four UEFA European Championships. A pioneer in the marketing of Olympic Games’ athletes, Octagon represents Michael Phelps the most accomplished Olympian of all time and Apolo Anton Ohno, the most decorated U.S. Winter Games athlete. Octagon also has been at the forefront of Olympic Games sponsorship marketing since 1992, having worked for more than 30 corporate sponsors including TOP sponsors, local organizing committees and NGBs.
For more information, please contact: www.octagon.com.
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