By Gavin O’Malley
NEW YORK—Zenith Media, a part of Publicis Groupe’s ZenithOptimedia Worldwide, has agreed to acquire Moxie Interactive, the Atlanta-based digital advertising agency. Zenith and Moxie have worked together for five years on the Verizon Wireless account, sharing traditional and digital media responsibilities, respectively.
The deal is critical for Zenith to meet the growing digital needs of its clients, said Tim Jones, CEO of ZenithOptimedia Group, North America. “Digital has moved from being a tertiary or secondary concern to front and center,” said Jones. Speaking of Zenith’s clients, Jones added: “This is the biggest thing on their agendas.”
While Moxie’s capabilities will be fully integrated into Zenith to enhance its online planning and buying offerings, Moxie will retain its name, all employees and continue to operate as a free-standing unit out of Atlanta. Reporting directly to Jones, Moxie is expected to impart its digital expertise on all offices of Zenith Media USA.
Moxie Interactive will help expand Zenith’s digital breadth beyond interactive media buying into the full array of digital communications. The applications cover a whole range of services, from online media, search engine and e-mail marketing to technology development and hosting, interactive kiosks and signage, and e-commerce retail, as well as across PC, mobile, out of home and TV platforms.
In addition to Verizon Wireless, Moxie, which was founded in 2000, has worked with Coca-Cola, UPS and Home Depot, among others.
Gavin O’Malley is a reporter for AdAge, a sister publication of RCR Wireless News. Both publications are owned by Crain Communications Inc.
