Asian-based agency K2 and European agency Karla Otto have announced the merger of their activities into a newly created group, “The Independents”. It will share and leverage their respective expertise and resources to offer complete global communications, consulting, events, digital and marketing service for the fashion, luxury, beauty and lifestyle industries.

While continuing to operate independently under their respective brand names, K2 and Karla Otto will start offering combined services to clients who are searching for seamless integrated solutions.

K2 founder, Isabelle Chouvet, and Karla Otto, founder of her eponymous agency, will be the largest shareholders of the newly formed group. Isabelle Chouvet will serve as CEO of The Independents and Karla Otto as its Co-Chair, while remaining CEO of Karla Otto. With the merger, Alexander Werz, Global Director at Karla Otto, will become a partner of The Independents.
 
Together, K2 and Karla Otto have:

• combined offices in NYC, LA, London, Paris, Milan, Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong
• diversified and longstanding client portfolio with prestigious brands
• an integrated approach combining brand strategy, media relations, celebrity and influencer management, show and event design and production, digital content production and social media management
• over 400 industry experts between North America, Europe and Asia
• global creative and execution capabilities to deliver outstanding brand “experiences” in all markets
• an unrivalled perspective on China and the Chinese customer

In addition, The Independents has announced that it has received an equity investment from Cathay Capital and additional financial facilities from LGT European Capital and Tikehau Capital to support future growth, as well as buy and build strategy.