Dentsu Aegis digital network Isobar has secured a presence in Vietnam for the first time by acquiring six year-old Ho Chi Minh City-based digital agency Emerald.
The deal cements an affiliate relationship that had been in place since 2012.
The agency of 80 staff, which retains its name, will be led by founder Denise Thi as managing director, who will now report to Dentsu Aegis Network Vietnam’s CEO Toshinori Aoki. Co-founder Nguyen Khoa Hong Thanh will take on the role of operations director.
Emerald’s clients include adidas, Air France, Vinamilk and Kaspersky Lab.
Thi said that she hoped the deal would enable Emerald to leverage the resources and talent of the DAN group, and improve her agency’s work.
Dick van Motman, chairman and CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network Southeast Asia, added: “Bringing Emerald into Isobar adds another dimension to our market, leading digital capabilities in Southeast Asia and particularly Vietnam where we see huge potential for digital growth. I look forward to bringing new thinking and expertise into the network to better service our clients’ needs.”
