CP&B is eyeing the Brazil market and is believed to be finalizing a startup in Sao Paulo with two leading creative directors currently at Almap BBDO.

Andre Kassu and Marcos Medeiros are in advanced negotiations to open and run a Sao Paulo shop for the MDC Partners-owned agency in a deal that may be wrapped up within a month, Meio & Mensagem, Ad Age's partner in Brazil, reported today.

Sao Paulo would be CP&B's sixth office, in addition to Miami, Boulder and Los Angeles in the U.S., and European offices in London and Gothenberg.

The two Almap BBDO creative directors are a high-profile and much-awarded team at one of Brazil's top agencies. Mr. Kassu, a copywriter, has been at Almap BBDO for six years, and Mr. Medeiros, an art director, joined in 2005. Contacted by Meio & Mensagem, the pair declined to comment on their plans. CP&B also declined to comment.

CP&B looked at Brazil a couple years ago, and talked with local agency Peralta about an operating agreement, but that didn't work out. In the U.S., the agency this month made staff cuts and significant management changes after several senior executives departed.