Net Media Planet, parent company of digital media and technology firms NMPi and DQ&A, is to acquire US digital creative firm, Joystick, to create a media, technology, and creative offering. The acquisition will take the firm’s headcount to 340 employees, working in 16 offices around the world. Joystick’s entire leadership team, including Sara Francis and Dave Rosowsky, will be retained post-acquisition, with Francis taking up the role of CEO and Rosowsky, COO.

The acquisition was announced on the first day of The Cannes Lions Creative Festival, and follows NMPi’s 2017 expansion into six new markets, including two offices in the US, as well as its recent acquisition of US boutique Paid Social firm, MediaPact. Concurrently, DQ&A has launched in South-east Asia, Australia, Africa and Italy.

“As data gives us a better understanding of the consumer and their online journey, we are seeing a rapid shift in the digital ecosystem,” said NMPi CEO, Luke Judge. “It’s no longer about choosing channels to run your marketing activity; now the spotlight is on creating a flawless experience for the consumer. This is exactly why we are focused on reinventing what it means to be a digital marketing specialist, and joining forces with Joystick is a major step in that journey, allowing us to offer a more complete service focused on end-to-end customer experience.”

Originally founded in the US Joystick has a team of over 90 digital creatives across five offices, who focus on building digital creative advertising solutions and innovations. Clients include Google, HBO, Disney and Kroger, adding to NMPi and DQ&A’s clients LOréal, Papa John’s, Freeview, Melia Hotels, and Samsung. DQ&A is Google DoubleClick’s largest EMEA partner in the technology and professional services field.