Rosetta Marketing Group, which late last year bought SLO’s Level Studios, has itself just been purchased by Publicis Groupe of France for $575 million. Rublicis is a $7.4 billion communications and advertising juggernaut that spans multiple media, including Internet, television and print.

Rosetta’s meteoric growth in the last six years – from $40 million in revenue and 40 employees to $250 million and 1,100 employees – had attracted the attention of several potential buyers.

Level Studios is one of SLO’s fastest-growing employers and had about 125 local jobs when purchased by Rosetta late last year. That employment has already grown to 147 as Level became the West Coast headquarters for Rosetta.

Level’s major expansion plans still on track  

Insiders report that Rosetta-Level’s expansion plans in SLO are still on track and likely will be accelerated with the Publicis purchase.

Although it’s been under the radar, Rosetta-Level is currently developing a 45,000-square-feet building in the Prado Road area for 300 to 500 people, part of Rosetta’s plans to maintain its bi-coastal presence and have SLO’s Level continue to be its West Coast hub. This addition of 150 to 350 new head-of-household, high-tech jobs would be one of the largest single infusions of long-term jobs in San Luis Obispo County history.