Blackwood and G2 join forces in NZ market

| | 1 Comment

Blackwood Communications Group and Grey Global Group have joined forcesin New Zealand to form bcg², an integrated advertising andcommunications agency providing a unique offering in the local market.Ownership involves a mix of local/international shareholding. Thecompany will be locally managed with Paul Gardner, Grey Group chairmanAustralia, joining the board.

Bert Lamb, bcg² chairman says the company has been searching forinternational support to strengthen its New Zealand operations for sometime: “The new entity will provide clients with an enhanced, totallyintegrated communications solution,” said Lamb.

James Blackwood, CEO and executive creative director, bcg², believesthe new company will resonate very positively with current andpotential Kiwi clients: “We have brought together two very talentedteams who are well versed in managing global business with adistinctive local perspective. This will make bcg² stand out fromothers in the market,” said Blackwood.

Gardner says the integration will provide a seamless transition forclients of both agencies: “They can look forward to a one-stop-shop fortheir marketing communication needs and that the combination ofBlackwood Communications and Grey Global Group has been a smoothprocess with no conflict across portfolios.”

The new agency employs 30 staff including Managing Partners MichaelJarvis and Sarah Norrie – who played a significant role in establishingGrey Healthcare and has been managing G2, Grey Group’s New Zealandoperation since its inception in 2006.

“The Healthcare team is headed up by Stuart Ogden, one of New Zealand’sleading medical marketers with over 16 years experience,” says Lamb.