WONGDOODY is being acquired by Infosys, a global leader in consulting, technology and next-generation services in 45 countries, with headquarters in Bengaluru, India.
Ravi Kumas S, Infosys president & deputy COO, said, “We are focused on partnering with global brands and CMOs to help them on their digital-transformation journeys… WONGDOODY’s expertise in driving innovative creative solutions already is yielding significant results in our initial collaboration with clients, and this acquisition will further enhance our capabilities in this space.”
WONGDOODY co-founder and chairman Tracy Wong told MARKETING,“Disruption has come for the ad agency business. The model, as we see it, is dying, and is dead in many clients’ minds. Their problems are too big and nasty and tangled to be solved by one agency. Partnering with a global tech like Infosys connects us with digital strategy, digital transformation and digital delivery. We give them that brand experience component, plus the power of the creative process. I call it the ‘Superfriends’ model. Clients need all powers working together, not just Aquaman by himself.”
The release said the acquisition “represents Infosys’ further commitment to the expansion of a worldwide, connected network of Digital Studios. With Infosys Digital Studios spanning the globe—from Bengaluru and Pune in India, to New York City, London and Melbourne—the addition of WONGDOODY strengthens its ability to fulfill the needs of global clients for comprehensive digital solutions.”
WONGDOODY is a full-service advertising agency, with offices in Seattle, where it has a staff of 70, and Los Angeles, where it employs another 30. Wong also revealed plans to expand to New York City soon and perhaps other locations, depending on the flow of Infosys work. “So, yes, the plan is for staff to increase,” Tracy said.
Since its founding in 1993, the agency has won hundreds of global and local awards for creativity and marketing effectiveness, while building a culture that makes it one of the “best places to work,” according to Ad Age, the Puget Sound Business Journal and the Los Angeles Business Journal. It also was one of the big winners in the seventh annual MARKETING Awards competition.
Infosys was founded in 1981 in Pune and has grown to annual revenues of $10.3 billion. The acquisition is expected to close during the first quarter of fiscal 2019, subject to customary closing conditions.