Western Australia's biggest advertising agency Marketforce has announced a merger with local rival MJB&B, effective from August 1.
Western Australia's biggest advertising agency Marketforce has announced a merger with local rival MJB&B, effective from August 1.
MJB&B's 10 staff adds to Marketforce's 120, creating an almost double that of the next agency by employee numbers, The Brand Agency.
MJB&B managing director Craig Billings, told WA Business News that the merger was a result of trends in the market and that the resources of a bigger agency would benefit MJB&B's clients.
Mr Billings said he would not be taking equity in the merged agency while a directorship remains to be seen at this stage.
"I have enjoyed a long business association with Marketforce through its media company, Media Decisions, and am confident that the merger will bring together two very like-minded organisations. Most importantly the merger will create new opportunities for both clients and staff of MJB&B," he said in a statement.
Mr Billings said that there had been several merger discussions with Marketforce over a number of years.
"With no client conflicts existing between either agency at the current time, the opportunity to join forces is now stronger than ever," he said in the statement released late this afternoon.
In the joint statement, Marketforce chairman John Driscoll cited the strength of MJB&B in the area of retail advertising as one of the major attractions leading to the merger.
"Craig Billings is recognised as one of Western Australia's most successful and determined retail marketers and we welcome his experience and enthusiasm for great retail advertising," he said.
Mr Driscoll said that he hoped that the expanded range of services available through Marketforce would be seen as a positive by MJB&B clients.
"We are also pleased that the merger will see all current MJB&B staff offered employment at Marketforce in addition to several new positions being created", said Mr Driscoll.
The business of MJB&B will merge with an existing Marketforce retail division currently known as Redline, a business name picked up by Marketforce as a result of the merger with Shorter Partners in 2002, with the merged entity to be known as Marketforce Retail.
Clients of MJB&B include, among others, City Farmers, Dusk, Richgrow, Sapphire Pools and Furniture Bazaar.
