Ogilvy Unit Acquires Search Marketing Agency
The Ogilvy Group announced that its digital and direct media company Neo@Ogilvy has acquired Global Strategies International, a search marketing consultant.
The move is intended to bulk up Neo@Ogilvy’s current global services in both paid advertising and organic search and in particular should allow a strategic approach to off-engine search as a marketing channel.
“Search marketing cannot live in a silo anymore,” said Nasreen Madhany, Global CEO of Neo@Ogilvy, in a release. “It needs to be part of a 360-degree strategy for delivering marketing solutions. When managed holistically, search marketing can deliver branding as well as business results.”
GSI, which specializes in search engine optimization, brand reputation management and training, was founded in 2004 by Bill Hunt, Jeremy Sanchez and Andy Weatherwax. The three will stay on at the helm of GSI, which will keep its identity within Neo@Ogilvy.
The paired agencies will operate 24 offices in 21 countries and already share some global clients.
Full financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed, but Ogilvy Group corporate parent WPP Group PLC said the unit took a 70% stake in GSI.
Neo@Ogilvy manages campaigns including digital advertising and direct marketing, digital and direct TV, direct response print and e-mail, search marketing and Web 2.0 tactics such as blogs and video blogs.
