Media.Monks acquires Italian content marketing agency Miyagi
Milan-based content marketing agency Miyagi is to merge with Media.Monks, extending the network’s footprint in Italy.
Aperol, a Campari brand, is a client of new Media.Monks agency Miyagi
The deal will bring 70 new staff and clients such as Campari, Danone, Red Bull and Xiaomi to the S4 Capital-owned network’s roster.
In a statement, S4 Capital executive chairman Sir Martin Sorrell said: “We are delighted to welcome Francesco, Tommaso, Felice, Giuseppe and Francesco to Media.Monks and S4Capital. We look forward to developing an even stronger content practice in Italy to complement our data and digital media practice and form a base for technology services, building on the impressive success Miyagi has already had and broadening our base in western continental Europe.”
The agency will be known as Miyagi.Monks under the network’s naming scheme.
Francesco Bragonzi, chairman and co-founder of Miyagi, said: “On behalf of the partners we are excited to be joining Media.Monks and we look forward to taking its disruptive model to the next level here in Italy. Becoming part of a company that shares the same vision that we’ve followed since the beginning was a unique and unmissable opportunity for us and we can’t wait to start this incredible new adventure and to share this new path with our clients. We also really want to share the excitement of this moment with our employees who have made this possible and who will be first in line on this new ride.”
Founded in 2013 by partners Francesco Bragonzi, Francesco Menichini, Tommaso Marucchi, Felice Arborea and Giuseppe Azzone, Miyagi transitioned from a production company to offer strategy, research and data services to clients.
Victor Knaap, who is chief exec of Media.Monks EMEA and executive director at S4 Capital, said the company resembled Media.Monks itself. “Miyagi significantly expands our content practice in Italy giving us deeper creative, production and social capabilities which we can put to work immediately for our Italian clients.
“Besides that, Miyagi’s work and management team looks a lot like Media.Monks a few years back and we got along since the first moment we met.
“With close to 100 Monks in the Italian market and a clear focus on digital creative craft, I believe we will accomplish great things together.“
S4 Capital recently recorded a strong third quarter performance, with the company predicting it would exceed its target of a full-year gross profit increase of 40%.