Fat Media bulks up following merger

KENDAL-based entrepreneur David Durnford has acquired Lancaster digital agency Fat Media and plans to merge it with his own marketing firm, Motive Technology.

The tie-up will create a business with 90 staff servicing clients such as Warburtons, Glaxo SmithKline, Macdonald Hotels, Jessops and the Stobart Group.

Mr Durnford’s Motive Technology is essentially reversing into the larger Fat Media where the five founding shareholders will stay on. The value of the deal was not disclosed.

Fat Media’s managing director Mike Gibson said: “We’re immensely proud of the phenomenal growth story of Fat Media over the past nine years. Our aim was to continue this growth long into the future and to do that we needed the external investment and experience to take us to the next level. After huge interest it was an easy decision to work with David. His track record is second to none and it is going to be a pleasure working with him to take Fat Media forward.”

Mr Durnford, who sold his boradband provider Smallworld Fibre to Virgin Media in February, said: “I’m delighted to become involved with Fat Media. It’s a business I’ve known of for many years and have watched and admired it progress to become one of the leading digital agencies in the North West. I’m really looking forward to working with all the team here as we look to expand and become one of the top digital agencies in the country.”

A team from North West law firm Brabners, led by corporate partner Gill Gardner, acted for the buyer.