French group invests in Brand New Media

Leeds-based digital consultancy Brand New Media has been acquired by French Web agency FI System, which claims to be the fourth largest Internet consultancy in Europe.

In separate deals, the group has also just acquired London Web company Kord Group and direct marketing agency GCP. Brand New Media managing director Simon Wadsworth now takes a place on the FI System board.

Brand New Media will retain its name for the time being. It is not yet known whether any of the newly-acquired UK companies will be merged, according to an FI System spokesman in Paris.

A spokesman for Brand New Media says the deal will not radically change the existing 37-strong operation, other than providing the means to grow more quickly. “We are growing very quickly and we are hoping to be [employing] 60 to 80 people by the end of the year,” he says.

FI System head Pascal Josselin says: “Brand New Media is looked upon as one of the most creative new media agencies for the handling of blue chip clients.”

Brand New Media’s current client list includes Heinz, NTL, P&G, Bass and KP.