Integrated agency buys Swedish brand expert

Gyro International, Europe's leading integrated communications agency, has acquired Dowell Stubbs, the Stockholm-based brand communications consultancy for an undisclosed sum.

Dowell Stubbs, which employs a staff of 40 and posts an annual turnover of circa £4 million, was originally formed as Mighty Mouse Communications in 1989 by Julian Stubbs and Eric Dowell.

The acquisition of Dowell Stubbs, which follows Gyro's acquisition in March of B2B marketing agency Cicero Marketing Communications, will see the Swedish-based consultancy merging with Gyro's existing Swedish operations.

In terms of the existing management team at Dowell Stubbs, Claes af Buren becomes the Managing Director of Gyro's entire Swedish base whilst Julian Stubbs will become Gyro's Head of Brand Strategy across the group worldwide.

Eric Dowell will be Creative Director based out of New Jersey in the US, and will be an intrinsic part of Gyro's East Coast offering in the United States.

Richard Glasson, Chief Operating Officer at Gyro International, commented: "This is an important acquisition for Gyro as Dowell Stubbs is a very successful agency with an excellent reputation.

"The acquisition allows us to create one of the largest independent agencies in Scandinavia.

"Dowell Stubbs also has a strong presence in the bio-tech market which is a key vertical marketplace for Gyro moving forwards.

"Culturally the agency fits very naturally with the rest of Gyro's operations, and its international client base will benefit from the combination of the two companies".

Julian Stubbs, Founder and CEO, Dowell Stubbs, commented: "Gyro International is a perfect fit with Dowell Stubbs when it comes to culture, chemistry and business focus.

"We're really excited about joining the Gyro Group and putting our service offerings and resources together".

Claes af Buren, Managing Director Stockholm, Dowell Stubbs, commented: "I am incredibly excited about being a part of the Gyro network - in many ways this development was a natural step for Dowell Stubbs after years of progressive growth and needless to say, the Gyro mentality perfectly fits ours.

"At the same time, merging the two offices in Sweden will make us a serious player in Stockholm - we have the strategic and creative skills to out perform any competitor both locally and globally".

Gyro is currently looking at a number of further acquisition and start-up opportunities both in the UK and internationally.

Gyro International is an independent full service integrated communications agency and is the fastest growing large agency in the UK and the UK's largest business-to-business agency.

Formed in 1991, the agency offers integrated communications to a client list which includes: Sony, Oracle, American Express, HP, Rentokil Initial, Adobe, Moss Bros, Tate and Lyle, Palm and Virgin Atlantic.

Gyro has offices in London, Manchester, Geneva, San Francisco, New York, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Dublin, Hamburg and Paris.

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