MUMBAI: Ogilvy & Mather has acquired a 33.3 per cent position in STW’s leading digital communications firm, DTDigital.
STW Group owns 66.7 per cent of Ogilvy Group Australia, with WPP holding the remaining 33.3 per cent. The investment by WPP in DTDigital brings its ownership in line with that of Ogilvy Australia.
DTDigital, one of Australia’s successful digital agencies, joined STW Group in 2003 and during the next eight years grew revenues from $1 million per annum to forecast revenue for 2012 of $14 million. Clients include Bunnings, Myer and NAB.
“Ogilvy knows brand, social and CRM while DTDigital provides great digital, channel and technology skills making the combination a winning formula. We have worked in partnership for the past four years and acquiring part of DTDigital cements that relationship, allowing us to offer first class integrated digital to clients inside Australia and across Asia,” said Ogilvy & Mather Asia Pacific CEO Paul Heath.
For the past four years, DTDigital has been working alongside Ogilvy in Melbourne. Today DTDigital has more than 110 full-time staff in its Melbourne office.
STW Group CEO Mike Connaghan said: “It’s not in our nature to sell parts of our prized assets but the logic in this instance was overwhelming. DTDigital already partners closely with Ogilvy Group Melbourne, and there are intentions to expand this partnership with Ogilvy to other markets. The integrated nature of many of our client campaigns makes it absolutely right for Ogilvy that we have DTDigital even further aligned with that business. It’s a good deal for all stakeholders.”
DTDigital, an award-winning digital marketing design and technology company, was founded by STW Group’s chief digital officer David Trewern in 1996. DTDigital evolved from a multimedia design studio into a business that’s helped transform some of Australia’s leading brands in the digital age.
Success has come through a full-service offering, which includes deep specialisation in high growth areas that are not typically part of an ‘advertising agency’ offer.
DTDigital has been able to develop capabilities in specialist areas beyond strategy, creative and production such as user experience, design and consulting, advanced web application engineering, eCommerce, email marketing, data and analytics, social media and social business strategy, mobile marketing and application development, and immersive ‘beyond the browser’ digital experiences.
“This deal accelerates DTDigital’s launch to the Sydney market. Andrew Baxter, David Trewern and Brian Vella were instrumental in bringing the businesses together in Melbourne and the same team will ensure it is an instant success in Sydney,” Connaghan said.
