Accenture Acquires Design and Creative Agencies

The acquisitions will expand the company's operations into New Zealand and Australia

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May 10, 2017
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Accenture PLC (ACN, Financial) announced May 7 it has acquired Maud, a design company, and The Monkeys, a creative agency. The move allows the consultancy company to bolster its customer experience capabilities in New Zealand and Australia.

The terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

The Monkeys is a Sydney-based creative agency focused on entertainment, advertising and technology. The company's past clients include UBank, University of Sydney, Parmalat (MIL:PLT, Financial), IKEA and Telstra (ASX:TLS, Financial).

The company is behind breakthrough campaigns like Meat and Livestock Australia's "You Never Lamb Alone."

Maud, another Sydney-based company, is a much smaller operation with a specialty in branding, corporate identity and experience. The company's LinkedIn account states it is the "most internationally awarded design business in Australia."

The company will help Accenture strengthen its corporate identity and branding operations. The company's clients include UBank, BPAY, Alphabet's Google (GOOG, Financial)(GOOGL, Financial), David Jones (ASX:DJS, Financial) and the University of Sydney, to name a few.

The company was founded in 2012 with an approach that always starts with brand strategy.

Together, the acquisitions strengthen Accenture Interactive's digital customer transformation solutions for lead digital and marketing officers.

“For over a decade, The Monkeys has created provocative ideas that have redefined the industry and delivered innovative customer experiences,” Michael Buckley, head of Accenture Interactive Australia and New Zealand, said in a press release. “This acquisition further differentiates Accenture Interactive as a new breed of agency, providing CMOs with innovative thinking and a new set of connected capabilities to win in today’s experience-led economy.”

The Monkeys' CEO Mark Green and Co-Chief Creative Officers Scott Nowell and Justin Drape will maintain their roles and take on additional leadership positions under Accenture Interactive. Maud's CCO David Park will also remain in his position.

The deal marks Accenture's 12th acquisition since 2013 as the company continues its efforts to expand its scope, reach and depth in a growing industry.

The move will help the company improve customer experience, a key issue in the industry.

"Helping clients get customers is absolutely the most important thing," says consultant and entrepreneur Sam Ovens, a New Zealand native.

The acquisitions will help Accenture do just that.

"Customer experience is the new battleground and this acquisition will enable Accenture Interactive to integrate creative excellence with digital customer experience delivery," Accenture Interactive head Brian Whipple said. "Together, we're bringing our unique model to the market: part creative agency, part business consultancy, and part technology powerhouse – all focused on creating the best customer experiences on the planet."

Green says the combined company will provide a "great opportunity" for clients.

"We look forward to offering clients an unrivalled and holistic customer experience offering," he said in a statement about the acquisition.

Disclosure: Author does not own any shares in the listed companies.

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