HispanicBusiness

Announcing W2O Digital

AUSTIN, TX -- (Marketwire) -- 12/12/12 -- In yet another step to strengthen its foothold in digital hotbed Austin, Texas, and continue building the agency of the future, W2O Group, an independent global network of leading communications firms, including WCG, Twist Mktg and BrewLife, today announced that it will combine Austin-based digital agency VM Foundry with its existing multi-office digital practice and local office in Austin to create W2O Digital.

Led by Founder and CEO Jim Eustace, VM Foundry specializes in web and mobile application development with a focus on data-driven insights and development of scalable, repeatable social and online media influencer SAAS products and services. VM Foundry has served major state and national political campaigns as well as Fortune 500 companies and brands. By combining the talent and experience of VM Foundry with W2O's existing expertise and capabilities in the United States, London and within its global independent network of firms, W2O Digital is designed to become an international center of excellence in Austin. It will also serve as a think tank and learning center for W2O's clients and staff focused on the core digital media disciplines -- including analytics, search and agile online content creation -- integral to the future of marketing and communications. No financial terms were disclosed.

"Our goal is to become the best external and internal communications consulting company on a global scale for healthcare, technology, consumer and entertainment companies and brands in the next three to five years," said W2O Group's Founder, Chairman and CEO, Jim Weiss. "To achieve that objective, it is essential to have state-of-the-art innovation-driven digital expertise and capacity, particularly because of the ever-increasing transition of the Fortune 1,000's media spending to online, mobile and social media. Adding the fire power and digital chops of a company such as VM Foundry is exactly what we need to stay competitive in the future."

The VM Foundry deal follows several recent key hires, investments and other moves designed to strengthen W2O Group companies' ability to partner with its clients across the consumer, corporate, technology and healthcare industries on integrated, holistic digital communications strategies to address and solve a myriad of business issues. Earlier this year, W2O Group announced the acquisition of Austin-based Big Data company Ravel, a partnership with leading video entrepreneur Tim Bahr in a new analytics-driven online video venture called NextWorks, and the creation of the W2O Group/Newhouse Center for Social Commerce™ with Syracuse University focusing on imparting industry-leading skills and acumen to students, professors, staff and clients in the emerging field of social commerce.