Thompson Brand Partners acquires fellow Yorkshire digital agency
YORKSHIRE brand agency Thompson Brand Partners has acquired digital agency What Creative.
Thompson Brand Partners, which is celebrating its 30th year in business, has clients including Thomas Cook, Confused, Paul Smith and Harvey Nichols. The combined team will trade as Thompson Brand Partners, and be based in the existing Thompson studios in North Leeds.
Leeds-based What Creative, founded by digital designers, Chris Kemm and Chris Skelton, was launched five years ago and its clients include ERS Medical, OTE Sports and various UK creative agencies including Mediacom and Beattie Communications.
The acquisition results in a 25% increase in capacity and an enhanced service offer including responsive web design, content creation, email marketing and mobile app development.
Ian Thompson, founder and creative director of Thompson Brand Partners, said: “We knew the moment we met the guys that we could work well together. They all have a design sensitivity that is essential, in our opinion, and which we find very unusual in digital agencies. We could also tell they wanted to have influence beyond the digital communications of a brand and a desire to grow both as individuals and a team.”
Nick Ramshaw, Thompson managing director added: “This acquisition represents a significant addition to our team, and enables Thompson Brand Partners to help clients maximise digital opportunities. Not only have we acquired a digital team in one swoop, we’ve got one of the very best out there, and a team we know we can work with.”
What Creative co-founder Chris Kemm said that making the move to formally join the agency gives the new business an opportunity to grow and have a wider influence.
“Our existing clients will get the continuity of working with the same team, but with access to the full brand design service we now offer,” he said.
What Creative co-founder Chris Skelton added: “It’s exciting to be working not only with such an experienced team, but a team that has seen the potential for putting digital at the heart of branding.”
Thompson Brand Partners was advised by Nigel Hoyle at Blacks and What Creative was advised by Paul King at Clarion.
