Socially-led creative agency network We Are Social, has acquired a majority stake in Socialize, the Middle East’s largest independent social media agency.
The move, which is subject to regulatory approval, is We Are Social’s first acquisition, and extends its network to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for the first time. We Are Social will now have 11 offices across nine countries, bringing its employee count to over 700. The network currently has offices in New York, London, Paris, Milan, Munich, Berlin, Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing and Sydney. Its roster of clients includes adidas, Netflix, Samsung, Lavazza and Google.
Socialize will continue operating as an independent brand under the leadership of Akanksha Goel, founder and managing director.
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Robin Grant, chairman and co-founder, We Are Social says in a statement: “We’re incredibly excited to be welcoming Akanksha and the rest of the Socialize team to the We Are Social family. They’re kindred spirits who share our creative culture and passion for social. As one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic regions in the world, the Middle East is absolutely crucial for our global clients and having Socialize as part of our network has fulfilled a long-held ambition.”
Akanksha Goel, founder and managing director, Socialize adds: “We Are Social’s entrepreneurial spirit and future-focussed offering makes it the perfect strategic fit for Socialize. We’re looking forward to joining forces with a network that is so like us from both a cultural and working practice perspective, a forward-thinking partner who shares our vision of the future and a global ecosystem that allows us to deliver greater value to our clients.”
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The transaction is subject to regulatory approval from the relevant UAE authorities, which is expected to be received within the next few weeks.
