THIRTY new digital marketing jobs could be created across Cumbria and Lancashire over the next year following the acquisition of Fat Media by Kendal-based entrepreneur David Durnford.
The Lancaster agency has merged with Mr Durnford’s Motive Technology to make it one of the largest digital marketing agencies in northern England. Under the deal, Motive Technology will take on the Fat Media name.
The expanded business, which has offices in Barrow and London, currently employs 68 specialists across an array of digital, marketing and technical disciplines.
It is expected to grow in the next 12 months to employ more than 90. The merged companies have organisations such as Lakeland, Cumbria Police, Westmorland, South Lakeland Parks, Stobart Group, Jessops and Mountain Goat on their books. National and international clients include Servisair, Glaxo SmithKline, Warburtons and Mitsubishi.
Mr Durnford 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. We hope to create a significant amount of new job opportunities locally, which in itself is great news for Kendal, Lancaster and beyond.”
Mike Gibson, managing director at Fat Media, 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.
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"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”.
The acquisition was achieved through David Durnford’s company Netfonics Holdings, which was set up after he sold leading cable operator Smallworld to Virgin Media.
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