Photon Closes Found Agency, Moves Staff

Embattled marketing group Photon has continued its efforts to simplify its management and company structure, closing digital provider Found Agency and moving its staff to its sister company Returnity.

The resulting full-service digital agency will retain the Returnity brand and CEO Paula O'Connell. Its offer will include SEO, e-commerce web building, digital media planning and buying (Found's traditional strengths), and Returnity's corse areas of email marketing, web analytics and strategic consulting.

The firm says there will be no staff cuts as a result of the merger, and O'Connell suggests the opposite: 'Both groups are posting record results and we plan to hire new staff following several account gains in recent weeks.' She describes the move as 'perfect sense', giving clients an 'end to end digital solution' and creating 'an obvious combination'.

Found Agency's Daniel Benton, who will head up the agency's search and e-commerce arm, comments: 'We are passionate about sharing our knowledge of search with Returnity's clients and making a positive difference with our combined service offering.'

The merged entity will be headquartered in Returnity's Sydney office, with additional offices in Melbourne and Brisbane. Web site: www.returnity.com .