South Africa's NATIVE Joins WPP Digital Fold

WPP-owned digital agency VML has agreed to acquire a majority stake in South African full service digital marketing specialist NATIVE. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 2010 through the merger of three of the country's specialist digital agencies - Brandsh, Cambrient, and Stonewall+ Digital - NATIVE provides a full range of services including creative, design, technology execution, marketing analytics, digital media buying and social media management. Its Intelligence division comprises a User Experience Design team and an Insight & Analytics department through which the company tracks and measures its client work and conducts research, competitor analysis, trend reviews and online audits.

For the year ended 28th February 2013, the company's unaudited revenues were approximately ZAR 80 million ($US 7.9m). Company CEO Jason Xenopoulos (pictured) previously served as Executive Creative Director for WPP-owned marcoms agency Young & Rubicam, of which VML is part.

WPP said in a statement that this investment represents the latest step in VML's global expansion. Following the transaction, the agency will be known as NATIVE VML.

Web sites: www.wpp.com and www.native.co.za .