Toronto’s Zig, which also has offices in Chicago, is merging with ACLC. Both are MDC partner companies, and the operations will be merged June 30. The new ad and marketing firm will keep the Zig name. ACLC brings strong media capability and a powerful digital platform to the table through its digital group, PUSH Interactive.
Andy Macaulay will remain at the helm of the merged company as president, CEO and co-chair. Esmé Carroll, former CEO of ACLC, will become co-chair. The new agency will also keep all clients of both agencies, including Molson, IKEA, Sun Life Financial, Unilever, SCA Personal Care (Serenity/Tena brands), Virgin Mobile, Best Buy, Ontario Power Authority and Toshiba.
Macaulay says the merger ‘adds significant benefits for our clients and staff in Canada and the United States, including a wealth of interactive capabilities.’ He adds the new team will ‘ensure business and talent continuity, and at the same time introduce clients to the powerful complementary skills that zig now has to offer with the fusion of ACLC’s resources.’
Carroll called the merger an ‘absolute win-win for us.’ She says the two companies are a great fit with ‘significant complementary strengths. There is great cultural synergy in that both organizations believe in a results-driven, collaborative culture that puts clients’ business needs first.’
Zig’s start-up year was 1999, and it opened its first US office in 2006. ACLC has been around for about 40 years.
