Dentsu Aegis Network Ramps up Intelligent Content through Acquisition of Leading Agency Novus

Novus Singapore will merge with John Brown Media to accelerate the network’s content marketing proposition in Asia Pacific

 Dentsu Aegis Network today announces that it has acquired Novus Group Holdings Pte Ltd (“Novus”) in Singapore, one of Southeast Asia’s leading independent content services companies, to be merged with global content leader John Brown Media. Post-acquisition, it will be rebranded as John Brown Novus, working in tandem with digital performance network brand iProspect through its globally recognised performance solution – Intelligent Content, to scale and accelerate Dentsu Aegis Network’s content marketing proposition in the Asia Pacific region.

Founded in 2009, Novus is a multi-platform content and brand-publishing agency headquartered in Singapore with fully integrated editorial, design and digital teams of more than 30 staff. Providing end-to-end content services from strategy through to content creation and management, Novus delivers full spectrum content solutions with digital capabilities to global and regional blue chip clients across core areas of expertise including finance, travel and health.

Nick Waters, CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network Asia Pacific, said: “Content marketing is a fast growing segment and is moving towards the centre of the marketing services spectrum. As consumers have increasing means of avoiding advertising, content is becoming an increasingly differentiating segment of marketing services and is vital in enabling marketers to get their messages to consumers.”

Andrew Hirsch, Global CEO of John Brown, said: “Novus is a great fit with John Brown Media with strong complementary sector expertise. They have a solid core team of talent as well as a reputable management team. Novus follows a set up similar to our model which features end-to-end content services, presenting a natural alignment with our ambition to scale content marketing in the region and lead in this space.”

Joining the leadership team from Novus are Simon Cholmeley, CEO and Marie Lyte, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Simon – who holds over 25 years’ experience in the publishing industry and is one of the board members of the Asia Content Marketing Association – will be the CEO of John Brown Novus, and Marie will be Chief Operations Officer, both reporting directly to Rob Hughes, CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network North Asia. Simon and Marie will be joined by Lucy Dryburgh, John Brown Media’s existing Managing Director APAC.

Simon Cholmeley, CEO of Novus, said: “We have seen a dramatic increase in demand for high quality content services across the region over the past couple of years. Novus needed to find a partner with a strong global network who could offer us the infrastructure, expertise and resources to allow us to expand our footprint within the region. John Brown Media is one of the world’s largest content agencies and joining forces represents a significant opportunity to develop the business further, not only to better service our existing clients but to gain exposure to new brands and provide our teams with a strong framework for world-class collaboration, skills development and career options.”

-ENDS-

For further information contact:

Pei Xuan Lim
Regional Communications Associate Director
Dentsu Aegis Network Asia Pacific
T: +65 6501 1693
E: PeiXuan.Lim@dentsuaegis.com

Notes to Editors:

About Dentsu Aegis Network

Part of Dentsu Inc., Dentsu Aegis Network is made up of ten global network brands - Carat, Dentsu, dentsu X, iProspect, Isobar, mcgarrybowen, Merkle, MKTG, Posterscope and Vizeum and supported by its specialist/multi-market brands. 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 145 countries worldwide with more than 38,000 dedicated specialists.

About iProspect

Founded in 1996 as a specialist Search agency in the US, iProspect has evolved to dominate the global digital performance marketing space, driving digital performance for clients through Paid & Natural Search, Performance Display, Affiliate Marketing, Mobile, Paid Social, Social Media Management, Content Generation, Lead Generation, Analytics, Conversion Rate Optimization and structured data and feeds. The iProspect team stretches across 53 countries with 88 offices and over 4,000 employees and works with some of the world's leading advertisers including Adidas, Reebok, Burberry, Disney, General Motors, Hilton, Nokia and Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts. iProspect is wholly owned by Dentsu Aegis Network, having been acquired as part of Aegis Media in 2013.