JWT New Zealand has acquired a majority stake in Heyday, an independent digital agency based in Wellington.

The move, which allows both companies growth opportunities across Auckland and Wellington, is a core part of JWT’s on-going growth plan in New Zealand.

Heyday was founded in 2000 by Luke Pierson, who has built Heyday into one of New Zealand’s most comprehensive and respected digital agencies. The company’s services include digital strategy, visual design, user experience design, content development, digital film, smartphone applications and web application development.   Heyday’s key clients include ANZ Bank, Z Energy and Trade Me, New Zealand’s largest Internet-auction website. The company employs 35 people.

“We’re delighted to welcome Heyday to JWT,” says John Gutteridge, CEO JWT Australia & New Zealand. “Luke and the team have created a terrific business with big ambitions. Critically there is a very clear alignment from both Heyday and JWT on how we need to ready ourselves for tomorrow and the long term. The two businesses have quite different skills, allowing the group to deliver broader, faster, deeper and better solutions to existing clients and future prospects in both Auckland and Wellington. It’s exciting to be expanding to Wellington where we look forward to shaking things up with a more progressive model.”

“Luke and I have been working in partnership for some time now. We’ve already stress tested the model, it’s incredibly compelling. We believe our clients will benefit massively from the constant evolution in thinking that this partnership brings,” Simon Lendrum, managing director of JWT Auckland.

For Heyday, the opportunity to join JWT was irresistible.

“With 35 people in Wellington, we have reached a maturity that enabled us to think somewhat bigger in terms of our future. The ability to expand into Auckland with JWT and be part of a global network not only of communications experts but also some 1,200 digital specialists means we can provide even bigger ideas and broader services to our clients. That sort of depth and scale is, of course, extremely exciting,” said Pierson.

Pierson, who was a finalist in this year’s Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year award, will stay on as managing director.

Image: Simon Lendrum and Luke Pierson