Montreal-based Espace M is undergoing a major shift by increasing current shareholders’ participation in the business and extending ownership to Vickie Dugas, director of media strategy, and Steve Richer, director of digital strategy.

Both Dugas and Richer have more than 10 years as media strategists. Dugas joined Espace M four years ago with experience from IPG Mediabrands and Carat, while Richer has been with the agency for six years after joining from Cossette Media.

The independent agency was created 15 years ago by a Gilbert Marin and his two sons Nicolas and Patrice. Since then, Espace M has built its reputation around being close to its clients’ business by making senior employees and resources  accessible, and the culture of an independent family business based on entrepreneurship still remains central to the agency’s DNA. As part of that, a stock ownership plan was put in place to reward selected key employees by allowing them to gradually become owners and be directly involved in managing what would become their own business.

Espace M has grown steadily in the last 15 years through its work with local clients like DuProprio, Fujitsu, Les Brasseurs du Nord, Le Devoir, d’Érable du Québec, as well as international work via its membership in ICOM, a global network of independent agencies. ICOM’s other Canadian members are Rethink and Quarry.