Moonfish set to rise again as bright digital?
Following the announcement last week that digital firm Moonfish was to close its doors after almost 14 years at the forefront of Manchester’s digital agency scene, it is understood that two directors from the agency are already well under way in the development of a new firm.
Moonfish’s managing director Roberto Simi and creative director and chairman Kate Drewett are thought to have registered Bright Digital with Companies House.
This theory is backed by animations on the Moonfish website that allude to the venture – “creating a Bright Digital future...” However, the directors would not be drawn on the topic.
A statement from the agency blamed a “long established difference of perspective between shareholders” for the closure, adding that “agreeing future strategy had become impossible”.
Moonfish was formed in 1994 by Drewett and Simi, who run the agency with commercial director Larraine Corbelli-Withey. The two other non-executive shareholders, David Barker and Robert Pinfold, act in a non-operational role, holding 50 per cent of shares, having left the company they once helped launch.
“The problem goes back to an agreement which meant all shareholders had to unanimously agree to everything,” said Simi. “We tried to move on, but never managed to resolve this issue. More recently, we had some difficult times, and could not get support from the bank as a result.”
“It would have been difficult to take on more risk under these circumstances,” added Drewett. “At the end of the day, there would have been no immediate return. In fact, there was not even a definite exit.”
It is thought that the new company is in talks with Moonfish’s biggest client, Intel.