Cognito today announced it has bought an equity stake in Westend Medien, a specialist German agency.

Westend Medien will now be part of the Cognito group and will trade as CognitoDACH – reflecting its ability to deliver across German-speaking Europe. Both companies have been working together in partnership on shared clients since 2020. 

This is the latest move in Cognito’s international expansion, following the launch of a Sydney office last year. This development – Cognito’s second office in the European Union – offers Cognito clients enhanced access to key European financial markets with media and language expertise across Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In turn, Westend Medien clients will have access to Cognito’s international network of experts across four continents.

CognitoDACH will be led by Dr. Michael Siemer, who founded Westend Medien over two decades ago. It specialises in providing strategic communication and content with a strong focus on financial and business media. The company has advised companies from the finance, tech, automotive, energy and HR industries.

Tom Coombes, CEO of Cognito: “The DACH region is important for many of our clients, as the largest economy in the Eurozone, and one where climate transition is central to the industries that Westend Medien serves. Today’s news means that we can now handle international customers in the region, as well as DACH companies looking to build an international profile. We have been working with Michael and his team for a number of years with great results. We look forward to working more closely together to bring value to our clients in the region and around the world.”

Dr. Michael Siemer, MD, CognitoDACH: “Germany is an attractive market for many international players, and at the same time many companies here are looking for agencies with connections to international markets. We are enthusiastic about being part of the Cognito brand and we know companies today are looking to work with network agencies that are specialists in their field. The past two years of cooperation have shown that this is the right direction. We are excited about our new colleagues and the growth opportunities that are available.”