Dentsu Aegis Network acquires full service digital marketing agency Emerald in Vietnam

Dentsu Aegis Network today announces that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a stake in Emerald, a leading full service digital marketing agency in Vietnam. Emerald will become a company within Isobar, Dentsu Aegis Network’s global digital marketing agency and will be referred to as “Emerald – Linked by Isobar.” The acquisition grows Isobar’s network in Asia Pacific, moving into the Vietnamese market for the first time.

Founded in 2009 by communication practitioners Ms. Denise Thi (Thi Anh Dao) and Mr. Nguyen Khoa Hong Thanh, Emerald has grown to a team of over 80 digital marketing experts, servicing international and local brands such as adidas, Air France, Vinamilk and Kaspersky Lab.

Ms. Denise Thi will continue as Managing Director of Emerald, reporting to Toshinori Aoki, CEO, Dentsu Aegis Network Vietnam. She will be supported by Mr. Nguyen Khoa Hong Thanh, Operations Director.

Dick van Motman, Chairman and CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network Southeast Asia, said: “Bringing Emerald into Isobar adds another dimension to our market, leading digital capabilities in Southeast Asia and particularly Vietnam where we see huge potential for digital growth. I look forward to bringing new thinking and expertise into the network to better service our clients’ needs.”

Jean Lin, Global CEO Isobar, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Emerald to the global Isobar family. Our shared vision of delivering innovative digital solutions will enable us to deliver Ideas without Limits for our clients and accelerate our development in Vietnam.”

Denise Thi, Founder and CEO of Emerald, said: “We are thrilled to join Isobar and the Dentsu Aegis Network family. I’m confident that this partnership will allow us to leverage the global resources and talent of the group, to deliver groundbreaking work for our clients.”

Emerald has been an affiliate of Isobar in Vietnam since 2012 and was awarded Campaign Asia’s Vietnam Digital Agency of the Year in 2013. The acquisition of Emerald will see Dentsu Aegis Network Vietnam grow from 162 staff to 242 in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi. Dentsu is a leading creative agency in Vietnam, topping the R3 New Business rankings for 2014.

 – ENDS –

For further information contact:

Lavinia.Rajaram@dentsuaegis.com

Notes to Editors:

About Isobar

Isobar is a global full service digital marketing agency, driven by the purpose to deliver borderless ideas enabled by technology, to transform businesses and brands. We have over 3,700 digital pioneers in 69 offices, across 42 markets worldwide. In 2013 Isobar won over 170 awards, including 18 Agency of the Year titles and we have won two consecutive, Asia-Pacific Agency Network of the Year Awards. Key clients include adidas, Avis, Coca-Cola, Disney, General Motors, Google, HBO, Kellogg and P&G. Isobar is part of the Dentsu Aegis Network, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dents Inc.

About Dentsu Aegis Network

Part of Dentsu Inc., Dentsu Aegis Network is made up of eight global network brands - Carat, Dentsu, Dentsu media, iProspect, Isobar, mcgarrybowen, Posterscope and Vizeum and supported by its specialist/multi-market brands including Amnet, Amplifi, Data2Decisions, Mitchell Communications (PR), psLIVE and 360i. Dentsu Aegis Network is Innovating the Way Brands Are Built for its clients through its best-in-class expertise and capabilities in media, digital and creative communications services. Offering a distinctive and innovative range of products and services, Dentsu Aegis Network is headquartered in London and operates in 110 countries worldwide with over 23,000 dedicated specialists.