MRM Worldwide Acquires Swedish Digital agency

Added: (Mon May 19 2008)

Pressbox (Press Release) - MRM Worldwide (UK), IPG’s largest digital agency in Europe, is pleased to announce that MRM Worldwide has acquired Swedish digital strategy agency Starsky and merged it with its operation in Stockholm.

Effective immediately, the new entity is now known as MRM Starsky Worldwide. Terms of the deal are undisclosed.

The merger creates a new, leading digital agency for the Scandinavian market that combines the best-in-class direct and digital capabilities of MRM Worldwide in Sweden with Starsky’s expertise in setting digital business strategy as well as its branding, design, and online consumer behavior practices. Starsky’s clients are Scandinavian Airlines, Vattenfall, SEB and AMF Pension.

"We are delighted by the expansion of MRM Worldwide's European presence in Scandinavia given the significant role the region continues to play in the development of the digital and mobile landscape," said Alastair Duncan, CEO of MRM Worldwide (UK). "This move now confirms our position as Interpublic’s leading digital entity in Europe and will support our ambitions to deliver class leading strategic, creative, technology and measurement leadership for our Clients in the digital space across the region. London will continue to be the hub for MRM Worldwide's European digital activity."

MRM Worldwide’s client roster in Sweden includes, SEB, SJ, TeliaSonera and Scania.

Anders Nyström founded Starsky in 2000. He becomes deputy managing director of MRM Starsky and reports to Carl Rustner, managing director of MRM Worldwide in Stockholm, who retains that title in the new agency. The addition of 18 Starsky employees brings the staff total of MRM Starsky to 65.

“It’s extremely complementary,” said Rustner of the merger. “MRM in Sweden is about dialogue and interactive advertising while Starsky is more about business process. This sets the stage for greater expansion in the Scandinavian market.”

--Ends--

About MRM Worldwide (UK):
MRM Worldwide (UK) is IPG’s largest digital agency in Europe. Clients include COI, Carbon Trust, Dell, GM, Intel, Microsoft, MSN, Nestlé and Novartis. It is part of McCann Worldgroup, which is owned by the Interpublic Group of Companies [NYSE: IPG].
Forrester Research recently classified the company as a ‘strong performer’ in its 2007 European Wave Interactive Agencies Web Design study.

About Starsky:
Starsky advises companies on how to meet communicative and commercial challenges in digital media.

Further information:

Toby Hall / Brooke Paul (gth media) +44 (0)20 7153 8035

Alastair Duncan (MRM Worldwide) +44 (0)20 7153 8007