Dentsu Aegis Network acquires majority share of BWM Group in Australia

Dentsu Aegis Network today announces the acquisition of BWM Group in Australia, considerably scaling its creative credentials in the market and further strengthening the already significant Dentsu Aegis Network business in Australia – Asia Pacific’s 3rd largest advertising economy.

The award winning and highly regarded creative agency with over 140 staff across Sydney and Melbourne will change its name to BWM Dentsu and will be the flagship creative agency brand of Dentsu Aegis Network in Australia. 

BWM Group founders Rob Belgiovane, Paul Williams and Jamie Mackay will all remain in senior executive roles with BWM Dentsu, along with the existing leadership team in Sydney and Melbourne.

Nick Waters, Asia Pacific CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network, said: “We are delighted to bring BWM Group into our company. This is a top quality agency with exceptional creative credentials. It is a major strategic step which adds a highly complementary business to our group in Australia. We have a strong group of market leading agencies in media, performance media, digital marketing, event and sport, and now advertising. By working alongside each other as one cohesive team we have the opportunity to create further advantage for our clients and our business.”

CEO of the BWM Group Paul Williams said joining Dentsu Aegis Network would add enormous depth to the services offered to its clients, making BWM stronger and more competitive than ever.

“Big ideas that get Australians talking and transform and drive companies and brands will always be the core of our business. This partnership allows us the best of both worlds. We continue to manage our business with a strong sense of independence, while leveraging the enormous skills and assets across Dentsu Aegis Network,” Mr Williams said.

Hiroaki Charlie Sano, Executive Officer of Dentsu Inc. and Global Brand President of the Dentsu branded agencies within Dentsu Aegis Network said: “Dentsu is an agency network with significant creative ambition that has a long standing history and a strong footprint in the Asia Pacific region. With the creation of BWM Dentsu, we can further grow in the Australian market. We’re delighted to announce this important acquisition and to offer our clients a truly seamless service experience in the region.”

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 For further information contact:

Jane Hutton Group Communications Director T: +61 413 011 743 E: jane.hutton@dentsuaegis.com

Sarah Bamford Group Communications Manager T: +61 425 768 930 E: sarah.bamford@dentsuaegis.com

Notes to Editors:

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. 

Offering a distinctive and innovative range of products and services, Dentsu Aegis Network ANZ is headquartered in Melbourne with offices in Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth and Auckland. Dentsu Aegis Network Australia comprises of three top ten media companies in Carat, Vizeum and Mitchells, and a world class digital agency in Isobar. BWM Group will share these resources where it makes sense for clients, and tap into the global strength of the wider Dentsu Aegis Network.

About BWM

BWM was born in 1996, fathered by the vision of founding partners Rob Belgiovane, Paul Williams and Jamie Mackay to build Australia’s leading independent advertising agency.

The vision, and the partnership, has been the most enduring in Australian advertising. BWM now has over 140 staff and full service offices in Sydney and Melbourne. 

BWM Group consists of the BWM creative agency (Sydney and Melbourne), digital communications agency Sputnik, consumer focused social public relations agency The POP Agency, agribusiness communication specialists Cox Inall Communications and indigenous communications specialists Cox Inall Ridgeway.

BWM Dentsu in Australia will offer clients:

• integrated media and creative strategy
• access to tools, data, data analytics and technology that will help drive ideas that get Australians talking. BWM Dentsu will have access to one of the most technically advanced and dynamic media companies in the world
• development and training opportunities for staff around the globe
• integration opportunities for top talent across various brands within Dentsu Aegis and BWM
• increased opportunities for innovative ideas generation and shared learnings