AKQA Expands into South Africa

Global design and innovation agency AKQA (part of the global WPP family) is expanding into two new studios in SA as part of the integration of the local TMARC group.

TMARC, along with subsidiaries Platform 5 and Strike Mobile is one of South Africa’s leading performance marketing companies, with a vision to build products and services that are driven by data, content, media and technology thereby enabling intelligent connection for their clients. Platform 5 will change its name to AKQA as of 1st September 2020.

Platform 5 was started in 2016 to deliver digital solutions based on the employment of technology platforms to enhance client performance and is acertified Google Ads specialist in search, mobile, display, video and shopping.

The studios in Johannesburg and Cape Town currently have 55 employees serving notable clients including Unilever, Campari, Danone, RMB, Pernod Ricard, Forever New and Nestle.

Nick Terry, TMARC CEO, says: “To join the AKQA family and establish the South African office is a significant development for our business and our clients who now have the benefit of access to the world’s highest ranked creativity and experience agency, as confirmed by Gartner. It is a significant endorsement of our business and our talent demonstrating the long term opportunities we see in the South African market.”

Ajaz Ahmed, CEO AKQA says “We are excited about the impact the TMARC team, portfolio and platform will have to drive significant results for our clients.”

AKQA employs over 2,200 people across 29 studios worldwide and is recognised in the Fast Company Best Workplaces for Innovators list 2020. It won two Cannes Lions Grand Prixs, and a Clio Grand Prix in 2019, alongside recognition by industry leading analysts Gartner and Forrester as one of the world’s leading experience design and global marketing agencies.