WEBER SHANDWICK BOLSTERS GLOBAL DATA SCIENCE, ANALYTICS, SEARCH AND PERFORMANCE MARKETING OFFERING WITH ACQUISITION OF TWO LEADING DIGITAL FIRMS

NEW YORK, December 7, 2017 – Weber Shandwick, a wholly owned unit of Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) and one of the world’s leading global communications and engagement firms, today announced its acquisition of two companies that expand the firm’s global data science, analytics, search and performance marketing capabilities: Resolute Digital, a full-service digital marketing and technology firm specialising in audience intelligence and performance marketing, and Bomoda, a leading data science and business intelligence firm with deep specialisation in China. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.

The acquisitions, effective immediately, fuse Weber Shandwick’s industry-leading expertise in public relations, earned engagement and integrated marketing with additional capabilities in data and analytics that together will inform, build and deliver high-impact communications programmes for clients. Weber Shandwick also plans to leverage proprietary technology behind Bomoda’s leading social insights platform in China to continue developing new tools and approaches that place data at the centre of marketing strategies for clients across industries and geographies. These deals follow Weber Shandwick’s acquisition of mobile agency Flipside in 2016 and bring added depth to the firm’s Mediaco unit.

“The importance of data and insights to create effective communications strategies continues to accelerate,” said Andy Polansky, CEO of Weber Shandwick. “Our focus is always on staying ahead of the pace of change. The leading edge competencies that both Resolute Digital and Bomoda bring will allow Weber Shandwick to continue to innovate around the data and technology solutions that our clients need.”

“Big shifts in mobile adoption and time spent on major social networks have opened up unprecedented avenues for us to help clients communicate, engage and sell,” said Chris Perry, Chief Digital Officer of Weber Shandwick. “We continue to develop partnerships, build platforms and utilise proprietary technology to help us mine data and gather insights that lead to the right audience engagement and, ultimately, business results for our clients. Resolute Digital and Bomoda are important additions to help deliver on this agenda for clients and continue to lead in the marketplace.”

Resolute Digital Adds Deep Search, Performance Marketing Expertise to Weber Shandwick’s Leading Content Capabilities

Resolute Digital, headquartered in New York, is a full-service digital marketing and technology agency with deep expertise in website analytics, search engine marketing, performance marketing, mobile and web design, and was among the first Google Analytics certified partners. Its data-first approach to audience intelligence, customer acquisition and brand engagement has delivered sophisticated digital, mobile and paid media solutions for some of the world’s leading companies and brands.

“For more than a decade, the Resolute Digital team has helped marketers take advantage of the opportunities that digital provides, conceptualising and executing fully-integrated digital marketing campaigns that are grounded in data,” said Jarod Caporino, CEO and President of Resolute Digital. “We look forward to continuing that mission with clients all across the world as part of Weber Shandwick.”

Bomoda and Weber Shandwick Bring Data Science, New Technology to Clients in China and Beyond

Bomoda, also headquartered in New York, is a leading data science and business intelligence firm with specialisation in influencer marketing and digital commerce. The firm has built one of the most sophisticated social insights platforms focused on the China market based on state of the art artificial intelligence and natural language processing. Leveraging consumer behaviour data collected and analysed from China’s largest mobile and social platforms, Bomoda provides strategic counsel and unique data-driven insights to many leading brands and companies in China.

“Many of the most innovative approaches to digital marketing today are born in China, given the country’s incredibly mobile and social consumer base,” said Brian Buchwald, CEO of Bomoda. “We’re proud of Bomoda’s success in helping global brands better understand what drives consumer behaviour and purchase decisions in the China market. With Weber Shandwick, we’ll continue to innovate together and combine data science, technology and human curation to develop new approaches and technologies that unlock important insights for businesses in markets all around the world.”

See more on the Webber Shandwick website http://webershandwick.co.uk/press_release/weber-shandwick-bolsters-global-data-science-analytics-search-performance-marketing-offering-acquisition-two-leading-digital-firms/