Leeds agencies 4am and CHILLI in management buyout
Yorkshire design agencies 4am and CHILLI have been acquired together in a management buyout but will continue to trade independently.
The management buyout team comprises 4am managing director Andy Heap and CHILLI MD David Whittle, who have acquired the agencies from marketing and communications group, Principles, for an undisclosed sum.
4am was established in 1994 and CHILLI in 1997. Now, the Leeds-based agencies will keep their independence under the umbrella of new company, Narrabeen Communications, with Heap and Whittle as joint partners. Whittle said the two had been working towards the buyout for \"some time.\"
CHILLI’s sister Australian agency RELAX, which was founded in 2005, has also concluded a management buyout. Chris Bowyer, its Sydney-based creative director has become the majority shareholder with Whittle and Heap retaining an interest in the agency as well as remaining as directors.
The two agencies current clients include Woolmark, Movcitie\'s, Symphony Group and Slumberland.