New owners look to take Robson Brown global

Mar 9 2010 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

THE new American owners of Newcastle advertising and marketing agency Robson Brown say they will use the North East as a platform for growth across the UK and eventually the globe.

Los Angeles-based marketing company Round2 sealed a deal on Friday to buy the North East’s biggest media agency from Alan Brown and Stuart Robson, who founded the firm 26 years ago.

And yesterday its chairman Garfield Ricketts visited Newcastle to outline his plans to make its new Tyneside operation the centre of an international expansion and is close to finalising a deal to buy a London agency, with a third acquisition to follow within months.

He said: “We are currently reviewing our masterplan in the light of events but Robson Brown in Newcastle will continue to be the core and from here we will look to create a global footprint, we will be looking to the next level and this could include a move into Asia.”

RB posted annual sales of £37m for the last year and Mr Ricketts said the acquisitions will take annual revenues to £60m with the 95-strong North East workforce set to grow. Ricketts said he is “ecstatic” about the purchase. “Robson Brown is a perfect complement for Round2. Round2 is a media agency and Robson Brown is a full- service agency and we are both client and employee-centred,” he added.

“The fact that Robson Brown has such a strong profile regionally and nationally has also been a major attraction and whilst the company remains firmly rooted in the region, we are also planning to have a significant London office.”

Robson Brown’s chief executive and Round2 International’s new UK CEO, Andrew Marwick, said: “We look forward to the next stage of growth for Robson Brown and are excited and optimistic about the future.

“I see this as an ideal succession plan for Robson Brown to grow and develop to not only provide the potential for an exciting and optimistic future for the company and our staff but also allow us to continue to improve and expand our capabilities and professional services to our clients. We will have access to greater resources and firepower in addition to new ways of working and new approaches from the US for us to consider.”

RB has national and regional clients including Dreams, Metrocentre, Bellway, Manchester Arndale, Flymo, Newcastle Building Society, DFDS Seaways and Benfield.

Mr Robson said: “We have had many approaches over the years which is understandable we are a big brand and have an enviable reputation, great clients and a highly talented team.

“We have always turned down these approaches in the past but the opportunity with Round 2 ticked all the boxes.”

The multi-service agency specialises in advertising, creative, digital, public relations, media planning and buying, print and design.