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Jaywing plc (LON: JWNG) adds Social Audiences platform with acquisition of HeadOfffice

Jaywing has announced today the acquisition of social publishing, native marketing and audience first creative agency HeadOfffice. The agency will become part of its Leeds based digital marketing business Epiphany. 

HeadOfffice was founded in 2016 by former Epiphany Creative Director, Gaz Battersby and has grown quickly since, having already generated a profit for the financial year ended 31 March 2017.

Commenting on the deal, Rob Shaw CEO of Jaywing said: "I've known Gaz for many years and I'm really impressed with what he has created in HeadOfffice. We know that the worlds of brand and performance marketing are coming together, with Google and Facebook leading many of those changes that favour brands which connect with their customers. Putting HeadOfffice's creative ability with Gaz's leadership and emerging opportunities in social audience creation and engagement, alongside Epiphany's strengths in data science means that we're well positioned to let our clients take advantage of this change.

"Furthermore, as Creative Partner, Gaz will oversee all of Epiphany's creative output and the development of new creative propositions, as well as the further development of HeadOfffice. The addition of the HeadOfffice team means we have bolstered our creative strength to meet growing demand from a broad range of clients, as well as adding a valuable social publishing and amplification experience."

"I'm absolutely thrilled to be back working with Rob", said Battersby. "Having taken the HeadOfffice proposition from a one man start-up to an established team with retained clients and a growing social audience platform, the time felt right to take it to the next level with the opportunities being part of a bigger business brings. My time at Epiphany was one of the most rewarding periods of my career and I'm quite sure it will be again now, with its renewed vigour and focus on its creative direction. The fact that we've all worked together and know each other well will assist in the delivery of great work for clients from day one."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

About HeadOfffice

HeadOfffice builds social communities through the creation of its own titles, reaching and engaging people on their terms and creating environments where brands can interact with ready-made, active and engaged communities. HeadOfffice also provides creative services and produces branded content in support of its publishing, working in partnership with brands, publishers and audiences.

HeadOfffice owner, Gaz Battersby, comes with 15 years of experience and was a member of Epiphany's senior management team during the 2014 Jaywing acquisition, before setting up the independent digital consultancy.

About Jaywing plc

Jaywing plc is an agency and consulting business with its HQ in Sheffield. The company operates in the UK and Australia and specialises in Data Science, with more than 1 in 10 of its 650+ people an accomplished data scientist.

Financially, Jaywing's recent results for the year 16/17 reported revenue of £44.5m and Gross Profit of £36m, up 13% on the previous year, with EBITDA up 12%. Last year saw two important acquisitions for Jaywing, out of which its Australian business and marketing technology offer, Jaywing Intelligence, were born. Jaywing Intelligence uses Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality to analyse, model and deliver decisions on huge volumes of real time data.

Over 60% of contracted revenues are recurring with 1 in 3 of Jaywing's top 50 clients buying more than one service line, facilitated by its collaborative operating model and proactive client management.

Jaywing plc's strategy is to continue to innovate, scale and grow, leveraging further its marketing technology and international footprint, as well as its relationship with Imperial College London's Data Science Institute (DSI), where research involves the use of advanced technology, including the DSI's impressive Data Observatory facility and advanced neuroimaging kit.

Jaywing works with a number of blue chip clients, including Sky, Pepsico, Castrol, first direct, Ann Summers, Collect Plus and Irwin Mitchell.

About Epiphany

Epiphany is an agency which connects ideas, data and new technologies to produce digital campaigns. Epiphany understands the importance of useful content, great UX (user experience), clean code and platform choice in order to maximise paid, owned and earned channels.

Founded as a search specialist in 2005, Epiphany specialises in SEO, PPC, Display and Web Development. In 2014 Epiphany became a Jaywing agency, forming part of a team of 650 data scientists, creative and technologists. Together, we help brands to make better decisions, content, data models and digital advertising.

Epiphany is proud to be working a range of clients, including Pandora, ScS, Pretty Little Thing, Anglian Home Improvements and Stokke.