Oranmore’s IMS Marketing is acquired by US company and announces 20 jobs

IMS Marketing, a leading B2B international marketing services agency, has announced that it has been acquired by North Carolina-based LOCOMOTIVE Agency. The acquisition will see IMS significantly expand its geographical reach into the US market, enabling it to almost double its workforce to 45 in the next two years.

Established in Oranmore, Co. Galway, in 2007, IMS Marketing is one of Ireland’s leading B2B strategic marketing agencies, helping businesses to achieve export success across the globe. The company provides export-focused businesses with market entry strategies – including integrated brand and digital marketing implementation – as they expand into new locations. Over the last three years, it has enjoyed 30% year-on-year revenue growth, while also growing profits.

This is the second acquisition by LOCOMOTIVE Agency, an award-winning specialist SEO and paid advertising agency, and the first outside of the US. The acquisition is a major step in LOCOMOTIVE’s international expansion. Through IMS and its strategic location in Ireland, it can provide US-based businesses with market entry strategies for anywhere in Europe.

Following the acquisition, IMS’s base of 100+ clients will benefit from LOCOMOTIVE’s digital marketing expertise and extensive US market experience. IMS’s existing clients will also benefit from a fully integrated digital agency with a broader geographic reach and a focus on the use of technology to drive lead generation and sales.

Over the next two years, IMS will add to its team in the areas of digital marketing and strategic brand communications. The company will recruit candidates based anywhere on the island of Ireland, offering them the flexibility to work from home when not attending client meetings or taking part in team collaboration days.

IMS will become ‘IMS Marketing, a LOCOMOTIVE agency’. Founder and Managing Director, Kevin Moran, along with the entire senior leadership team, will retain their roles in the agency.

Kevin Moran, Managing Director, IMS Marketing, said: “The combination of IMS Marketing and LOCOMOTIVE Agency is an exciting partnership for our clients and employees. It has always been our ambition to grow our business internationally and the acquisition by LOCOMOTIVE accelerates the opportunity to offer an integrated range of strategic marketing and digital services in both the US and European markets.

“We are excited about the many benefits this acquisition will bring to our clients and partners. It greatly enhances our ability to scale more quickly on the global stage and strengthen what we deliver to our existing clients.

“I don’t believe that any of this would have been possible without the remarkable, world-class team that we have built here in IMS. Nearly four years ago, the world was forced to go entirely online and we have not looked back since that. Aside from meetings with clients and team collaboration days, our workforce is entirely remote and that has enabled us to attract the best talent in Ireland. We are a flexible employer that respects and celebrates the interests and commitments that our people have outside of work. In doing so, we have positioned ourselves as a happy, dynamic workforce with a bright, inspiring future and I look forward to realising the true potential and growth opportunities this move brings for our team and company at large.”

Marty Martin, CEO, LOCOMOTIVE Agency, said: “We were immediately impressed by the IMS client base and their success in helping businesses to expand internationally. We share a common vision and complementary service offering that will enable more businesses across the world to achieve their international ambitions.

“This is an excellent cultural and strategic fit that increases the value we can offer to our combined customer base. IMS brings an enhanced service offering to the LOCOMOTIVE Agency that will position our redefined company as a truly international, full service digital agency with global reach.” 

IMS Marketing works with B2B companies as well as supporting market development programmes with a number of Irish Government partners such as Enterprise Ireland, IDA, Local Enterprise Office, Intertrade Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta.

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