Manning Gottlieb Media is poised to appoint the interactive
communications company, Indexfinger, to handle its entire new-media
portfolio.
The deal, which is the first of its kind to be struck, will give
Indexfinger exclusive access to MGM’s pounds 90 million client list
which includes Nike, Sony, Virgin and Suzuki. It will also leave
Indexfinger free to work with other agencies and clients.
Once the deal is formalised, MGM and Indexfinger will work through MGM’s
portfolio in order to pinpoint new-media opportunities with the aim of
helping clients to build their businesses. Indexfinger will also be
involved in pitching for new business alongside MGM.
Colin Gottlieb, managing partner at MGM, said: ‘New-media opportunities
also provide new sales channels. We have a number of progressive clients
with a ferocious appetite for building their business. We like the work
that Mark [Dickinson, co-founder of Indexfinger] has done. As a start-
up, the company is very hungry and pushing for new ideas. This is good
for our clients.’
Dickinson said: ‘MGM has some fantastic clients. It’s a quality
operation and they’re the sort of people we want to work with.’
MGM currently does very little in terms of new media for its existing
client list. Certain clients, such as Nike, control all their new-media
activity from their corporate headquarters.
Indexfinger was formed in July this year when Dickinson and Robert
Hamilton, the nucleus of Lowe Howard-Spink’s new-media department, broke
away to set up their own company.