Locomotive, a leading advertising company based in North Carolina, has successfully acquired IMS Marketing, a prominent Irish B2B marketing services agency headquartered in Oranmore, Co. Galway. The strategic move aims to facilitate Locomotive’s expansion into Europe by merging resources with IMS Marketing.
Despite retaining its name, IMS Marketing will now operate as a Locomotive agency. The company plans to bolster its team by hiring 20 new staff over the next two years, focusing on digital marketing and strategic brand communications roles across the island of Ireland.
Established in 2007, IMS Marketing has played a pivotal role in assisting businesses with international expansion, boasting partnerships with government agencies like Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland. The acquisition offers reciprocal benefits, with IMS Marketing clients gaining access to Locomotive’s US contacts, while Locomotive plans to leverage IMS Marketing’s network to expand its presence in Ireland and Europe.
Marty Martin, CEO of Locomotive Agency, expressed immediate admiration for IMS Marketing’s client base and success in facilitating international business expansion. The acquisition positions Locomotive as a global, full-service digital agency with a truly international reach, enhancing its service offering.
Kevin Moran, founder and managing director of IMS Marketing, sees the acquisition as an exciting partnership for clients and employees alike. He emphasised the ambition to grow the business internationally and views the acquisition by Locomotive as an opportunity to provide integrated strategic marketing and digital services in both the US and European markets.
Under the new structure, Moran and his senior leadership team will retain their positions. Moran acknowledged the crucial role played by the IMS team, emphasising the company’s remote work model and flexible approach that attracts top talent in Ireland. He anticipates a bright future for the company, realising the growth opportunities presented by the collaboration with Locomotive.
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