ZURICH—Swiss corporate communications firm Farner Consulting is acquiring YJOO Communications, Switzerland's third-biggest communications agency at the start of 2017. The move adds brand communications to Farner’s corporate, financial and public affairs portfolio and reinforces its creative department.

The deal also adds offices in St. Gallen, which will be expanded under the "YJOO by Farner" brand, and Lugano.

Martin Zahner, currently majority shareholder and chairman of the board of directors at YJOO, will be vice chairman of the board of directors and partner at Farner and will focus on the development of the company and relationships with key clients. Current YJOO employee Nina Krucker will be a partner at Farner and member of the management team responsible for the brand communications practice in the Zurich office.

Samuel Güttinger will manage the St. Gallen office and is also joining the Farner management team.

YJOO works with clients inclduing Coop, McDonald’s, Nespresso, SBB, IWC, the Federal Office for Public Health, OpenAir St. Gallen and a number of public sector organizations.

The combined group will employ nearly 140 people in the future, generating fee income of around CHF 25 million ($25.3 million) with officers in Zurich, Bern, Lausanne, Geneva, St. Gallen and Lugano. 

Photo: YJOO's Martin Zehner and Farner's Roman Geiser