The Oval Office expands into France

After Belgium (2012) and the Netherlands (2017), Belgian communication agency The Oval Office is now also taking its first steps in France. With the acquisition and integration of the Parisian Azilis, the communication agency is further building a European dimension around its distinctive vision: "We connect for real". The agency embraces the power of empathy to connect people and brands through experience-driven campaigns. This acquisition offers The Oval Office the opportunity to offer its international clients in the Benelux and France creative solutions based on the same vision and organization. Including France, the agency now counts 80 employees, spread over offices in Amsterdam, Antwerp, Brussels and Paris.

Shared vision on communication

The rapprochement between The Oval Office and Azilis dates back to the end of 2018, when the founders of both agencies first met. It was intriguing to see how both, independently and unaware of each other, had developed a parallel vision on communication.

Wouter Boits, CEO The Oval Office: “Society is changing and people expect more from brands. More respect, openness and transparency. It is our responsibility as an agency to develop communications that meet these expectations. A campaign by The Oval Office should be designed with the interests of the public in mind and should be lived by people as an experience that adds real value to their lives, not as an intrusion. We share the same vision on communication and have very complementary expertise and customers. ”

Connecting people and brands

Azilis is far from an unknown name in the French communication world. Founders Rodrigue Falémé and Jean-Charles Sibylle have grown the agency with their team for over 15 years. The result is a nice portfolio of loyal customers, both corporate and institutional. Brands such as Adidas, Accor, Galeries Lafayette, RATP, National Geographic, SNCF, Sephora and others have recognised the agency for its "experience-driven communication" for years.

Jean-Charles Sibylle and Rodrigue Falémé managing directors of The Oval Office France: “After growing our agency in the French market, we were seduced by the European adventure and the  “mindset” of the Belgian-Dutch team. Empathy is clearly the driving force behind the agency, at all levels, from management to the work processes. Employees take the time to put themselves in the shoes of customers, target audiences and partners. To know what drives them, to really get to know them and to create connecting communication with real added value. We look forward to further growing the agency together with our Belgian and Dutch colleagues to become the reference in the field of experience-driven communication. "