A blog for the New Zealand creative advertising industry, now at www.campaignbrief.com/nz. Email news to: michael@campaignbrief.com

Thursday, February 14, 2008

OMNICOM ACQUIRES MAJORITY INTEREST IN SHIFT

Omnicom Group Inc. has acquired a majority interest in Shift, a major digital consultancy in New Zealand.
Arguably New Zealand's preeminent design studio specializing in web-based communications and multimedia, Shift has a record of developing international award-winning websites. With an array of leading clients and offices in Wellington and Auckland, Shift has a stellar lineup of talent.
"The investment in Shift is an exciting addition to our fast growing digital capabilities in the Asia Pacific region," said Michael Birkin, Omnicom's Vice Chairman and Chairman and CEO of Asia Pacific. "We are enormously impressed with the quality of their work and the diverse range of their clients."
Selwyn Feary, Shift's founder, is equally enthusiastic about the development. "Our decision to partner with Omnicom opens up unlimited international opportunities for Shift. Our strategic goal was always to introduce our specialist solutions to the world, and Omnicom agencies are a global powerhouse of creativity and strategic acumen that will see us deliver our vision. We are confident that Omnicom will benefit from our kiwi flair and ingenuity, and the new relationship will also enhance the Shift team's ability to learn and pitch their best ideas to the global digital market."
Shift will work closely with TBWA, TEQUILA and Agency.com Worldwide, helping to enhance the TBWA\Group's digital offering on a global basis.
"We are very excited to be working with Shift as we have admired them for a long time. We hope that we will be able to export some of the 'kiwi know-how' to the rest of the world at the same time as we make our digital offering even stronger," said Keith Smith, President - International, TBWA\Worldwide.

12 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

question from a nzer across the ditch: are there many mid/large digital-only agencies in aucks? or is it all two-five person shops? cheers.

2:28 pm NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Omnicom Group are a people-focused lot who care a lot about the people whom work under them.

9:50 am NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thats nice dear.

11:24 am NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Click Suite have 25 staff....(btw congrats to shift)

1:48 pm NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think Click Suite are Wellington based. What about Terabyte?

3:31 pm NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Are there any details out there on the $$$ involved?

3:55 pm NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

NZ isn't big enough to be "digital only" - probably why they've sold out. NZ is probably too small to specialize in anything really.

4:50 pm NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

farming?

1:16 pm NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Its not about the $$$. Its about the leverage.

They're a company that's going for it.

They shoud get the Grande Axis instead of some dumb arsed TV ad.

There's a ton more innovation in their business plan than anything happening in a NZ creative department.

That is unless you get an English Creative Director whom wants everyone to do great ads like what used to happen in England in the 90's.

Believe me, it's still happening, and will happen.

8:16 pm NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

crickey.

9:50 am NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I might be more inclined to believe you if you didn't come across as slightly deranged.

11:27 am NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Crikey is right. Guess we'd better start entering the Axis awards.

8:13 pm NZDT

 

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