COLUMBIA, Md. – Merkle (merkleinc.com), a leading technology-enabled, data-driven performance marketing agency, announced its acquisition of dbg (dbg.co.uk); a UK-based, independent marketing solutions agency that specializes in optimizing client data to make compelling connections to drive growth and improve marketing and business performance.
“As the needs of our European and multi-national clients expand, it’s important for Merkle to build competencies that complement our U.S. business model, working with in-country professionals who share our values of hard work and entrepreneurial spirit.”
Launched in 2007, dbg specializes in the use and assimilation of first, second, and third-party data, employing analytics and technology to create informed customer interactions that drive growth for brands. The company delivers expertise in database marketing, campaign management, and marketing automation to a wide range of European and international clients, including Renault, Ted Baker, Center Parcs, RBS and VW. Dbg’s team of 140 experts will join Merkle’s Marketing Solutions Group, bringing Merkle’s total number of UK-based employees to more than 300 and more than 3,000 worldwide.
This is the second in a series of planned European acquisitions designed to reinforce Merkle’s global presence. It follows the company’s 2015 acquisition of Periscopix (periscopix.co.uk), a leading London-based performance marketing and programmatic agency. Tim Berry, who formerly served as president of Merkle’s CRM solutions, will assume the role of president of Merkle Europe, driving the agency’s overall European growth strategy.
“We are thrilled to welcome dbg to the Merkle family,” said David Williams, Merkle’s chairman and CEO. “As the needs of our European and multi-national clients expand, it’s important for Merkle to build competencies that complement our U.S. business model, working with in-country professionals who share our values of hard work and entrepreneurial spirit.”
“We’re looking forward to this new chapter in dbg’s history,” said dbg CEO Richard Lees. “We believe this opportunity will not only ensure the best future for our company, but will also expand the range of products and capabilities available to clients, adding best-in-class expertise and global scale. We are committed to providing the highest quality of service, helping brands to succeed through data-driven solutions.”
“With its foundation of data and analytics-based solutions, coupled with expertise in many of the same industries served by Merkle, dbg will help us continue to increase our global footprint and further build out our European hub in the UK,” Tim Berry commented. “What we do for our clients in the US has been validated by Forrester in its most recent Customer Insights Services Providers Wave® Report, and we aim to bring the same capabilities, with an equal degree of service excellence, to Europe. We are confident that the combination of dbg’s talent base and skill sets with Merkle’s deep expertise in CRM will help solidify our position as a global leader in performance marketing.”
About dbg
dbg is an independent data and technology agency, focusing on optimising customer data to drive intelligent marketing and deliver business growth. The business has a £13m turnover and employs 140 people, working from offices in London and Bristol. Services include Marketing Database Solutions, Multichannel Campaign Management, Data and Business Intelligence, Data Visualisation, Digital Communications Strategy, email marketing, analytics and outsourced campaign management. To support the delivery of a wide range of marketing solutions, dbg has a collection of market-leading tools and strategic partnerships with all the top industry technology providers, including Adobe, IBM Unica, RedPoint, SAS, Tealium, Apteco FastStats, Kitewheel, 3Radical, QlikView and Tableau. Their clients cover multiple sectors and include VW Group, Ted Baker, Whitbread and NowTV.
dbg.co.uk
About Merkle
Merkle is a global data-driven, technology-enabled performance marketing agency and the largest independent agency in the US for CRM, digital, and search. For more than 25 years, Fortune 1000 companies and leading nonprofit organizations have partnered with Merkle to maximize the value of their customer portfolios. The agency’s heritage in data, technology, and analytics forms the foundation for its unmatched skills in understanding consumer insights. When combined with its strength in performance media, Merkle creates customer experiences that drive improved marketing performance and shareholder value. With more than 3,000 employees, the privately held corporation is headquartered in Columbia, Maryland with 14 additional offices in the US and offices in London, Shanghai, and Nanjing. For more information, contact Merkle at 1-877-9-Merkle or visit www.merkleinc.com.
via BusinessWire
