MEA Mobile is hunting chances to help government and commercial organisations in the capital with digital and mobile strategies after acquiring Wellington design company Vertigo.

MEA Mobile is aggressively pursuing growth through acquisitions and organically, and has added two staff in design support roles to the four Vertigo already had in the region, says MEA director Rod Macfarlane.

“What we’re seeing a lot is goverment agencies have been going to the traditional creative agencies looking for a broad range of expertise, particularly in digital and mobile strategy, which we’ve had alot of experience in.

“Things like annual reports, which have traditionally been printed, it seems to be the thing to move to iPad apps or online releases.”

McFarlane wouldn’t reveal the sale price, nor if other acquisitions were imminent. Last year MEA acquired Hamilton agency Verdict, adding to its offices in Auckland, Canterbury and the US. Vertigo has been running in Wellington for more than 15 years and will continue to operate as a full service design company, it says.

MEA Mobile will continue to develop websites and mobile apps for internal release and for clients, says Macfarlane.

“Our skills in digital strategy and app development will expand Vertigo’s product offer in fields which are growing rapidly,” he says. “We know clients of creative agencies want management of their brand image across all platforms – traditional and digital.”

It counts Jasons, Agresearch, Otago University, Levis Samsung, Rip Curl, Intel and Walgreens among its clients.