NEW YORK — Cohn & Wolfe has opened its fourth office in Brazil under the Maquina Cohn & Wolfe brand, which was established in early 2016 when the WPP firm took a majority stake in one of Brazil's largest independent PR firms, Grupo Maquina.

Since the acquisition, Maquina Cohn & Wolfe has continued to grow, including a 40% expansion in digital business. The firm is currently growing at a double-digit rate in Brazil and is working with a blend of domestic and global brands across the consumer, corporate, technology and healthcare sectors. The new office is located in Belo Horizonte, the capital city in Brazil's Minas Gerais state. 

"Belo Horizonte is an important market for our agency's continued expansion in Latin America. Its dynamic economy, comprised of a mix of technology start-ups and established multinational companies, makes it a key location for a wide array of consumer and corporate brands," said Cohn & Wolfe CEO Donna Imperato. 

Despite the market challenges in Brazil, Cohn & Wolfe has opted for a growth strategy n the country. Minas Gerais is Brazil's third largest state economy, with an annual GDP of $164b. 

"It's an exciting time for Maquina Cohn & Wolfe to be in Belo Horizonte, as there has never been higher demand for our integrated communications offering then there is now," said Marcelo Diego, CEO of Maquina Cohn & Wolfe. 

Belo Horizonte is the center of the state's technology sector, with the highest density of technology companies and entrepreneurs in Brazil. 

"Since joining our agency just a year and a half a go, [Diego and his team] have quickly immersed themselves in our brands ethos and propelled the agency to even greater heights," said Imperato.
 
Cohn & Wolfe's Brazil offices are located in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and the country's capital city of Brasilia.