Maja Pawinska Sims 03 Nov 2020 // 8:59AM GMT
LONDON — Next Fifteen’s Archetype has acquired London independent technology agency Marlin PR for an undisclosed sum and will merge the two firms by February 2021.
Marlin was set up as an independent sister agency to Brands2Life – under parent company Fraser Scales Holdings – in 2008 by Jenny Tod, who was previously an account director in the corporate and technology practice at Ogilvy Public Relations. Tod bought out the company in 2016.
Tod (pictured), who is currently the founder and managing director of 29-strong Marlin, will become the MD of Archetype UK when the deal is complete. The rest of the Archetype management team remains in place.
Archetype CEO Helena Maus said: “I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Jenny and the amazing team at Marlin to the Archetype family. We know Marlin well through our joint work on clients like Slack from the very start, we’ve recognized a shared philosophy and approach.”
She added: “Marlin brings great talent and a portfolio of magnetic, fast growing clients that perfectly complement the strong team and client base we have in London. This acquisition demonstrates our deep commitment to the UK market and helps further our aim to set the standard for the global agency of the future.”
The deal follows three consecutive years of double-digit revenue growth at Marlin and 25% year-on-year growth expected for 2020, despite the pandemic.
Tod said: “We have always aspired to create the archetypal next generation communications agency and we are so proud that Helena has invited us to join her mission and offered us a global platform to achieve this. I am so excited to lead both UK teams at such a pivotal time as we reset during the pandemic and meet the challenges of our climate crisis and deepening inequality.”
She added: “Since 2008, our team at Marlin has been dedicated and driven by the belief that technology should fulfil its vast potential to make the world a better place. In this extraordinary and transformational year, we have been hugely grateful to continue our double-digit growth and be able to support our talented people and incredible clients changing the world.”
This year, Marlin has started work with clients including CodeFirstGirls, Coursera, Clearbanc, FoundersLane, Keeper and Circle CI, who join Slack, Asana and Xiaomi in its portfolio.
Archetype's EMEA director, Rod Cartwright, left a year ago to start his own crisis comms business, leaving global creative director Richard Parkinson leading the UK and Cecile Missildine focusing on Continental Europe, Middle East and Africa.