M&C Saatchi has taken a 60 per cent stake in talent management agency Merlin Elite.
The deal, which is believed to be worth more than £1.5 million, will see the agency change its name to M&C Saatchi Merlin and merged into M&C Saatchi’s existing sport and entertainment group.
Merlin Elite was launched by Richard Thompson in 2003 and currently manages the likes of Jamie Redknapp, Denise Lewis, Matt Dawson, Jay Kay and Jodie Kidd.
In selling a majority stake of the agency to M&C Saatchi, Thompson will become chairman of the talent agency division reporting to global chief executive of M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment, Steve Martin, and UK head of the M&C Saatchi network, Lisa Thomas.