Marketing automation platform snaps up Leeds-based digital agency

Marketing automation platform Force24 has acquired Leeds-based digital agency Peppy Marketing.

Peppy’s team has relocated to Force24’s 5,000 sq ft base at Indigo Blu in Leeds city centre, where it will target double-digit growth over the next 12 months.

The deal follows the firms appointment in May as a Force24 platinum partner, which led to a number of high-profile wins in the automotive, slow-moving consumer goods and other sectors.

Adam Oldfield, managing director of Force24, said: “With more than 20 years’ senior marketing experience, Brett James and Graham Davidson founded Peppy to develop multichannel, integrated and GDPR-compliant communication strategies for clients.

“But they stepped their offering up a notch when they were awarded certified platinum partner status in the spring, as they could then deliver automated campaigns as a managed service.”

He continued: “We love what the Peppy team achieved in such a short space of time.

“We quickly saw that their values closely mirrored our own, which is why this acquisition was such a logical step for both parties. I’m delighted that the deal has been a success.”

Force24 was founded in 2010 and today has more than 1,500 users. Next year, it plans to launch a new social media publishing application.

Adam said of the project: “We know that the experience of the Peppy team will allow us to deliver the same high level of strategic support within the social space, as we’ve become renowned for throughout the wider world of martech.”

Brett James, joint founding director at Peppy, commented: “Force24 is an exciting and innovative business.

“At the start of the year, we performed our due diligence within the marketing automation landscape, and reviewed almost every platform in the sector before deciding to commit to the platinum partnership.”

He added: “Force24 stood head and shoulders ahead of the competition – not only were we impressed by the product, but also the company’s commitment to supporting clients and partners.”