WPP’s J. Walter Thompson has taken a majority stake in Beirut-based digital marketing agency Cleartag.
The agency will continue to trade as Cleartag with the deal strengthening J. Walter Thompson’s digital offering in the Middle East and North Africa.
Discussing the deal, Vatche Keverian, JWT’s MENA’s chief executive officer said: “J. Walter Thompson is always looking at where the future is headed, which is why we have had Cleartag in our sight for some time. What made them stand out from other technology companies was our shared passion for ideas and being solutions orientated. More importantly was the human connection – the coming together of like-minded people strengthens our own futureproofing mindset.”
Cleartag, which also has an office in Dubai and outreach across the MENA region, was established in 2000 by CEO and co-founder Tarek Dajani. The agency’s managing partners are Omar Abou Ezzeddine, Wissam Malaeb and Nour Abou Alwan-Lagier. Dajani added: “Experimentation, innovation and discovery are at the heart of how we work and this deal will fulfil our team’s passion for ongoing learning as it provides us with a unique opportunity to tap into the extensive knowledge and global expertise within the J. Walter Thompson Company and the WPP group.”