New Holding Firm RyanCap Buys JBZ Digital

In Australia, recently formed ad and marcoms holding group RyanCap has acquired Melbourne-based digital agency JBZ Digital for an undisclosed sum.

Following the takeover, the JBZ Digital brand will be retired, and the agency will become part of the RyvalMedia division.

RyanCap, which was set up in June by former Dentsu Aegis Network (DAN) ANZ CEO Simon Ryan (pictured), focuses on digital marketing, data and technology businesses - planning to both launch its own brands and acquire and integrate other companies into the group. In July, it launched data and analytics-led digital marketing and media agency RyvalMedia, and hired Joseph Pardillo, former MD of DAN-owned Carat Australia to lead it.

JBZ (which stands for Job Bravo Zulu, apparently indicating a job well done), was founded in 2018 by Marcus Betschel, Paul Grainger and Jonathan Henshaw, and offers a range of services including analytics, audience insights, social media, programmatic advertising, and strategy and planning. The trio previously worked at Dentsu agency Columbus, while JBZ Director Nick Allen spent two years in DAN's social media team, and SEO Manager James Forrester spent two years at Columbus.

Web sites: www.ryvalmedia.com.au and www.jbzdigital.com .