IBM Buys Australian Agency Vivant

Tech giant and big data pioneer IBM has acquired Sydney's data and insights-based design agency Vivant, for an undisclosed sum.

Vivant was launched in 2008 by Anthony Farah, employs more than 40 people in Sydney and Melbourne and has established a client base in the financial services and distribution industries for design based on insights from behavioural science, data and technology. It will now be merged into digital agency division IBM iX. CEO Farah (pictured) will become Digital Strategy & iX Leader for IBM Australia and New Zealand.

Farah told news publication www.mumbrella.com.au that IBM's depth of research and its ability to attract talent were key to the agreement: 'We're all competing for talent. The thing that attracted us to IBM was the research, they spend over $6bn a year, including some facilities here'.

Paul Papas, Global Leader, IBM iX said in a statement: 'IBM shares a similar design, consulting and management philosophy with Vivant and our combined teams will raise the bar for experience-led, design driven, digital reinvention'.

The deal is expected to close this quarter. Vivant is online at www.vivant.com.au .