Dentsu Inc. announced today that its global business headquarters Dentsu Aegis Network Ltd., has reached an agreement to acquire a 100% stake in SesliHarfler Reklam Tanitim ve Yayin Hizmetleri Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. (hereinafter SesliHarfler), a digital creative agency in Turkey.
Following the acquisition, SesliHarfler will be branded SesliHarfler – Linked by Isobar, before being fully transformed into Isobar, one of the Dentsu Group’s 10 global brand network brands providing services in the digital domain.
With this acquisition, the Group aims to accelerating its growth strategy in the Turkish market through collaboration with other Group companies.
The acquisition comes at a critical juncture for the economy and the digital industry in Turkey – with half the population under 30, 25% under 14 and digital spend increasing by 15-20% per year. The population is highly digitally engaged, with 48 million internet users (the 6th largest in Europe), 42 million Facebook users (the 7th largest market in the world) and 16 million Instagram users on a monthly basis.
Established in 2006 by Özgür Karaçak (CEO of the agency) SesliHarfler is a leading digital creative agency with a solid reputation for creativity and strategic project execution, offering a full suite of digital communications services including digital, social, production and 360 marketing solutions to its clients in the Turkish market.
SesliHarfler posted gross revenue at TRY 8.5 million in the fiscal year ended in December 2016. With around 45 employees, the agency is currently led by Özgür Karaçak (Founder & CEO) and Görkem Uraz (Founder & Chairman).
Following the acquisition, SesliHarfler’s Özgür Karacak, Founder and CEO, and Görkem Uraz, Founder and Chairman, will lead the entire Isobar offering in the Turkish market.
Jean Lin, Global CEO Isobar said on this transsaction:”SesliHarfler has a strong local reputation for creativity, great clients and a proven management team. It is a good fit for our Isobar global business and our focus on transforming businesses, brands and people’s lives with the creative use of digital. When combined with our existing Isobar team, the agency will add scale and momentum to drive growth in Turkey’s digital market.”
Hartmut Riester, CEO Dentsu Aegis Network Turkey considered: ‘’SesliHarfler is a leading and highly experienced digital marketing agency in Turkey. Given our expectations of continued growth in this market, we are delighted to welcome SesliHarfler to our Group. This acquisition will strengthen our position on digital creative and production services, delivering scale, infill and innovation. SesliHarfler has a very experienced team and a visionary management in place. Its service offering and cultural fit will strongly support the future growth of Isobar Turkey.’’
Özgür Karaçak, Founding Partner SesliHarfler underscored:“We are thrilled and excited to become part of the Dentsu Aegis Network and Isobar family who share our strong focus on people and commitment to clients. As we continue our relentless efforts to craft innovative and integrated solutions for our clients, the experience, know-how and global reach of Dentsu Aegis Network will create unprecedented opportunities for our business and clients. Being a family means sharing a dream and we are very much looking forward to it.“
Image over the headline.- Left to right: Görkem Uraz Founder & Chairman Sesliharfler; Hartmut Riester, CEO Dentsu Aegis Network Turkey ; Özgür Karaçak (Founder and CEO SesliHarfler); and Zafer Özçelik (CDO, Dentsu Aegis Network Türkiye). © Dentsu Aegis Network.
