St Ives Group have announced the acquisition of leading search and digital agency Branded3 from co-founders Vin Chinnaraja and Patrick Altoft.
The acquisition of Branded3 is a continuation of St Ives’ strategy to create a complementary range of digital and marketing services that will enable the Group to add further value to existing and new clients and significantly strengthen its marketing services portfolio.
Branded3 has around 50 staff, with offices in central London and Leeds, and a strong B2C and B2B client base across a range of vertical sectors that covers entertainment, finance and travel and includes clients such as Vue Cinemas and City Index.
The company joins a range of businesses within the Group which specialise in data marketing and management, field marketing, customer engagement, market research and retail consultancy.
Following the acquisition, Branded3 will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of St Ives and will continue to be managed from its current locations by its existing management team.
Patrick Martell, Chief Executive of St Ives, says: “With the acquisition of Branded3 we are adding depth to our digital offering and further enhancing the range of marketing services we can provide for our existing and prospective clients.
Our combination of insight-led innovation and trusted execution across digital and physical media creates a unique offering in the market. Branded3 is an exciting addition to our Group and we are looking forward to supporting its growth plans.”
Commenting for Branded3, Vin Chinnaraja, CEO at Branded3 said: “We have achieved another major milestone in our growth plans and becoming part of a synergistic, forward-thinking group where there is huge potential for collaboration is a real boost for us. I am really looking forward to working with the St Ives team to fulfil our ambitious plans.”
Director of Search and co-owner of the Branded3, Patrick Altoft, added: “Branded3 already has a strong reputation as one of the most respected search agencies in the UK. With the support from St Ives Group, we can continue to grow both in the UK and internationally by being part of a larger group whilst still retaining our own identity and culture as an independently managed specialist agency.”
