Javelin, the agency group headed up by Joe Dobbin, has acquired a controlling stake in the Dublin-based digital agency Brand Social for an undisclosed sum.
It is understood that discussions have been ongoing between the two agencies for several months and the acquisition was completed a number of weeks ago. Brand Social will now become the digital arm of Javelin and will rebrand under the Javelin Digital name later this year.
Staff at Brand Social have now relocated to the Javelin Group offices in Smithfield, bringing the total employee headcount of the combined agency to 36.
Ken Stanley and Ray Doyle of Brand Social will continue in their roles as managing director and creative director respectively.
Joe Dobbin, Conor Kennedy and Paul Myers founded the Javelin Group in in 1986. The business includes Javelin Advertising, Javelin Direct, Javelin Media and now Javelin Digital. Clients of Javelin Group include Toyota, Bacardí, Irish Ferries, Davy Select, Focus Ireland, Arnotts, Betfair and BT Ireland.
For its part, Brand Social was established in 2009 and specializes in digital and social media marketing. Specialist core service include digital and social strategy, mobile advertising, digital creative services and programming. The agency counts Universal Pictures, the Digital Marketing Institute, GreenLetterbox.com and the Irish Management Institute amongst its clients.
Ken Stanley adds, “This is a really exciting time for Brand Social. The marriage of our expertise in digital marketing to Javelin Group’s experience, pedigree and wider service offering means we’re part of Ireland’s largest independent full-service communications group. Brand Social and Javelin also have a very similar culture and ethos so the fit was evident as soon as we started discussing a potential merger.” Brand Social will be focusing on growing the digital aspect of the Group’s business in 2014.
“We’ve serviced our clients well with digital over the last few years but now that we have some of the best digital talent in Ireland under our roof, we plan on taking full advantage of it” says Joe Dobbin of Javelin.
“Channel-neutral thinking has defined Javelin since our inception. It led us to start Ireland’s first specialist direct marketing agency. The acquisition of enhanced digital capabilities underlines our commitment to this approach, and to offering Group clients significant resource in every relevant area,” says Dobbin.
