Dentsu Aegis Network takes stake in Indian social and digital agency

Founded in 2007, WATConsult has more than 160 people working across offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata. The agency functions as a full-service digital agency and offers creative and technology services across mobile, digital and video. WATConsult’s clients include the Godrej Group, Nikon, Tata Chemicals, Bestseller Group and Bajaj Allianz.

Following the acquisition, the agency will become part of Isobar, Dentsu Aegis Network’s global digital marketing agency, and will be known as ‘WATConsult – Linked by Isobar’.

Commenting on the announcement, Dentsu Aegis Network Asia Pacific CEO, Nick Waters described India as priority for the network.

“The acquisition of WATConsult marks another significant step for our group in India," he said in a press release. "We view India as a priority market and will continue to seek scaled and quality investment opportunities here.”

As part of the acquisition, Rajiv Dingra will continue as CEO of WATConsult and will report into Ashish Bhasin, chairman and CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network South Asia. Nipun Kapur, COO of WATConsult and Heeru Dingra, CFO, will continuing in their respective roles.

“As an agency we see huge growth opportunity in digital advertising, particularly social media, digital video and mobile, and we are geared to capitalising on it,” said Dingra.

In July last year, Dentsu Aegis Network announced it had acquired a majority stake in Milestone Brandcom, a company that claimed to be the India’s largest OOH agency based on billings as well as the most awarded specialist agency.