De Novo Acquires Canadian Owen/Holleway Group
Moving ahead with its plan to continue acquiring leading marketing and communications companies, privately-held venture capital holding company, De Novo Corp., Hockessin, DE, has purchased Canada's Owen/Holleway Group (OHG) Cambridge, Ontario for an undisclosed amount.Owen/Holleway Group, a 15 million dollar firm, will join De Novo's two U.S. based companies, Creative Solutions International, Inc., and Convergence Group, Inc.
William F. Keenan, President of De Novo Corp., described Owen/Holleway as one of "the fast growing agencies in Canada…one with the strategic and creative communication services that will provide an important addition to De Novo's core capabilities."
Chris Keenan, Director for Marketing and Competitive Intelligence at De Novo, told DM News, that Own/Holleway Group will help De Novo sharpen its strategic advantages and extend "its commitment to offer full landscape analysis to all clients before storyboarding any ideas. We actually now offer a full value chain of services… and it [complements] our real leading industry experts."
OHG is one of the few agencies in Canada to be authorized by America Online (AOL) as an "affiliate studio" - a distinction requiring senior representatives of agencies to participate in a two week certification process covering industry core competency issues followed by AOL's general co-partnering protocol.
According to Keenan, less that five communication and marketing companies in Canada are currently AOL-certified agencies.
David Owen Freund, former OHG President who will now be its managing creative director under De Novo, said in a published report that "joining the diversified De Novo umbrella was a perfect opportunity to continue our exceptional growth…we look forward to building on our creative services and brand-expertise, which will enhance our clients' profitability."
While Owen/Holleway Group is expected to round out De Novo's Internet, general and brand building capabilities, the company's Creative Solutions International, Inc., will still provide the principal direct marketing and response expertise with an emphasis on financial services, telecommunications, healthcare and retailing industries. De Novo's Convergence Group agency focuses on database design and management, strategic and tactical planning, new product development and portfolio acquisitions.
