Dentsu Inc.'s overseas headquarters, Dentsu Aegis Network, announced on the 20th Japan time (19th Canada time) that it has reached an agreement with the shareholders of Canadian digital agency The SPOKE Agency Ltd (headquartered in Toronto, hereinafter "SPOKE") to acquire 100% of its shares.
Founded in 2009, The SPOKE Agency is an agency providing a wide range of digital advertising services. These include strategy development, creative and content production, media operations from securing ad placements to execution, and experiential marketing utilizing digital media (a method to enhance consumer awareness and favorability toward a brand through opportunities to actually experience products or services). Particularly, its creativity and cutting-edge marketing solutions have earned high praise from clients in lifestyle, distribution/retail, and entertainment sectors. The company's gross profit more than doubled between 2011 and 2013. The driving force behind this rapid growth is the leadership of its CEO and ECD, both of whom founded the company in their mid-20s.
CEO Jeff Greenspoon gained attention in 2009 when he was named "Young Entrepreneur of the Year" by Canada's PROFIT magazine, while ECD Kai Exos has served as a judge for numerous advertising awards.
Following the acquisition, Spoke will take over the personnel and operations of Isobar Canada, the local branch of Isobar—a communication agency within the Dentsu Group's global network brands with strengths in the digital domain—and will relaunch as the new Isobar Canada, evolving into a full-service digital agency.
Jeff Greenspoon will continue to lead the business as CEO of the new Isobar Canada, and Kai Exos will serve as Chief Creative Officer (CCO).
[The SPOKE Agency Overview]
Company Name: The SPOKE Agency Ltd
Headquarters: Toronto, Canada
*With offices in Vancouver, Canada, and New York City, USA
Established: October 2009
Shareholder Structure: Dentsu Inc. Aegis Network 100% (post-acquisition)
Gross Profit: CAD 1,673,000 (approx. ¥170 million) (Fiscal Year Ended December 2013)
Representative: Jeff Greenspoon
Kai Exos
Number of Employees: 25
Business Description: Provides services across a wide range of digital advertising-related fields
Dentsu Inc. News Release
http://www.dentsu.co.jp/news/release/2014/1222-003908.html
