Communisis in double acquisition

Communisis is continuing to build a full-service offering with a double acquisition – video company Jacaranda and digital agency Public Creative – which will both be rebranded and merged into its creative communications division.
Jacaranda clients include global brands Barclays, BBC Worldwide, BP, Panalpina and Rio Tinto. The firm has won over 250 creative awards including The Digital Impact Awards, Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards, New York Film and TV Awards. The deal will be worth around £1.5m in total.
Jacaranda’s owners – managing director Katy Eyre and creative director Gus Colquhoun – are to remain within the business and will be instrumental in developing video content for Communisis’ entire client base, across both the corporate and consumer sectors.
Public Creative, meanwhile, has designed digital sites and apps for the likes of Innocent, Johnson & Johnson, MTV and Nike. Public’s founders Rhydian Fisher and Simon Bucknell will be leaving the business to focus on a new online gaming venture. This deal is worth about £400,000.
Communisis chief executive Andy Blundell (pictured) said: “Jacaranda and Public Creative bring important new skills to Communisis, in line with our strategy, as the group continues to build its integrated service proposition. There is growing demand from clients for engaging content, especially for video and film across all digital channels, and these Acquisitions complement and enhance our existing capabilities.”