Publicis Worldwide Australia gets on Front Foot

October 31 2014, 4:20 pm | BY Lynchy | No Comments

Baxter Astill Sher-web.jpgAward-winning mobile specialist business Front Foot is joining forces with Publicis Worldwide Australia. The move represents a major foray by Publicis Worldwide into mobile-focused communications, with the Front Foot operations to complement Publicis Worldwide Australia’s existing digital and integrated communications capabilities.

Effective immediately, Front Foot’s founders Anton Sher (above right) and Ben Astill (centre) will move with their staff of 14 into Publicis Worldwide’s Sydney and Melbourne offices and continue to operate under the Front Foot name.

Andrew Baxter (above left), CEO of Publicis Worldwide Australia said Front Foot would lead the strategy, development and execution of mobile-led communications for clients: “Our plans for the group include a focus on providing full capabilities to manage end to end customer engagement for clients and their brands,” said Baxter. “Front Foot is a stand out business and was highly attractive to us as we turned our attention to the role mobile plays in customer engagement.”

Front Foot was founded in 2006 and is a fully digital services business delivering mobile and multi-channel solutions using the highly adaptive Agile methodologies. Its clients include sports broadcaster ESPN, Tabcorp, Zurich Financial Services and Telstra.

“Being part of the capabilities Andrew Baxter and his team are assembling at Publicis Worldwide Australia will be fantastic for Front Foot”, said Sher. “We totally back our team to deliver the highest-quality, transformative and commercially successful digital products and services.”

Adds Astill: “We love a challenge to demonstrate what we can do for clients.”

Front Foot is a highly awarded business. It has won successive AIMIA Awards for best mobile product or service. The business was also a finalist in the 2014 AIMIA Awards for Best Tablet Product or Service for its work with TAB.

The arrangement with Front Foot is the second major addition to Publicis Worldwide Australia engineered by Baxter. In July the agency announced a major strengthening of its CRM and digital communications capabilities with the team from award-winning agency Cubed joining Publicis’ ranks.