Social media agency We Are Social is expanding its scope to the Middle East and North Africa with its first acquisition.
We Are Social acquired a majority stake in Socialize, the largest independent social media agency in the Middle East. With the acquisition, We Are Social now has 11 offices across 9 countries while employing over 700.
Socialize will continue to operate as an independent entity under We Are Social, led by Socialize founder and managing director Akanksha Goel (pictured).
“We’re incredibly excited to be welcoming Akanksha and the rest of the Socialize team to the We Are Social family,” We Are Social co-founder and chairman Robin Grant said in a statement. “They’re kindred spirits who share our creative culture and passion for social. As one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic regions in the world, the Middle East is absolutely crucial for our global clients and having Socialize as part of our network has fulfilled a long-held ambition.”
“We Are Social’s entrepreneurial spirit and future-focussed offering makes it the perfect strategic fit for Socialize,” Goel added. “We’re looking forward to joining forces with a network that is so like us from both a cultural and working practice perspective, a forward-thinking partner who shares our vision of the future and a global ecosystem that allows us to deliver greater value to our clients.”
The transaction is still subject to regulatory approval by UAE authorities.
According to a press release, the acquisition, which comes as We Are Social celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, is part of a larger growth strategy tied to key acquisitions around the globe.