Leeds digital agency completes ‘Smart’ merger with Birmingham PR firm

Leeds-based digital specialists twentysix, has announced a merger with fellow MSQ Partners stablemate, Birmingham-based PR agency, Smarts Illuminate.

Rebranded as twentysixPR, the new entity will form a new full-service offering that will bring together the agency’s combined offices from Leeds, Birmingham, and London.

The newly-formed twentysixPR has expertise in consumer, corporate and B2B communications. The new offering will bring together these services with the existing digital expertise of the wider twentysix group that includes web development, UX design, consumer communications, search marketing, social media, and content creation.

The integration of an expert, multi-discipline PR team, completes a plan set out by twentysix to add depth to the earned media offering and create a truly full-service digital marketing and communications proposition.

Ryan Scott, managing director of twentysix Search, explained: “We have been bringing together some of the best talent from across the industry to ensure our clients have what they need, when they need it, to overcome their marketing challenges.

“This merger marks the next chapter in that journey. We’ve been on a mission to build a service offering that can ensure there is no modern marketing challenge that can’t be overcome. The twentysixPR team will play a huge role in this; they have outstanding credentials, a burgeoning client roster, and a talent pool that adds a great deal of value.”

Ryan Scott will oversee all commercial activity as part of his role as managing director, with former freuds associate director, Matt Eagles heading up the Edgbaston office.

Following two stints in London working for the likes of BMW, Purplebricks, TalkTalk and Mars, Matt returned to Birmingham and served with several Midlands-based agencies working on major projects across the city such as delivering the Grand Central Birmingham launch. Matt has more recently run his own consultancy where he flexed a global remit working with Movember, Comic Relief, and Made.com. He has been tasked with growing the twentysixPR service offering and taking them into other sectors.

Matt commented: “twentysix has a reputation for developing brilliant digital production, excellent search marketing, and producing industry-leading creative work so to become part of their offering is a hugely exciting prospect.

“I know the Birmingham office well, have worked with the team before, and it was where it all began for me so it feels good to come home.

“The intelligent thinking, first-class connection to media, combined with smartly applied creativity stand us in good stead to push what PR can achieve for clients as part of a genuinely integrated offering. The recent merger will allow us to do that on a far greater scale.”

twentysix, which has offices in London, Leeds, New York and Hong Kong, provides digital marketing services including website design and build, CMS, online campaign design, social media, SEO, PPC, performance marketing and content marketing.

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →