Engine unveils “Altogether” and acquires DC Interact; puts digital at the heart of Engine

The Engine Group (Engine), the UK’s fast growing privately owned integrated communications group, today announces the acquisition of DC Interact and the launch of Altogether, the Group’s new full service digital company.

Altogether is set to revolutionise the industry by merging Engine’s existing best in breed digital agencies Meme, one of the leading creative agencies in the UK, and Eyefall, the search marketing specialist with DC Interact. The acquisition of DC Interact, a leading digital design and build agency, completes the Altogether offering.

Meme’s award winning creativity, eyefall’s analytical search capabilities married with DC Interact’s technical and creative prowess will create a truly end-to-end digital capability. Clients will benefit from Altogether’s integrated digital strategy, planning and creative expertise as well as from capabilities in every viable tactical discipline including web design, back-end development, search engine optimisation and e-commerce.

DC Interact will retain all staff and move to Engine’s Golden Square offices in mid-June, bolstering Altogether’s headcount to approximately 70 staff. DC Interact will add current clients such as Tesco Personal Finance, The National Lottery and William Grant & Sons into the new Altogether offering. Other current Meme and eyefall accounts that will benefit from the new company include 118 118, Bupa and BMW.

Dave King, founder of eyefall, will become CEO of Altogether. Toby Gunton, Managing Director of DC Interact, will become Altogether Managing Director of Development Services. Anson Harris and Faraaz Marghoob, co-founders of MEME, will become Altogether’s Executive Creative Director and Strategy Director respectively.

Altogether is a significant strategic move for Engine that puts digital capabilities at the heart of its business.

Peter Scott, CEO of Engine Group commented, “Digital is exploding. It’s part of the core DNA of today’s marketing campaigns and can no longer be treated as a bolt on. Altogether was created out of recognition of this and the fact that today’s 21st century consumers and their media consumption habits are changing. It was imperative that we put digital capabilities at the fore of the Engine offering to help clients navigate these changing times. Altogether will develop seamless marketing and communications campaigns that resonate with today’s consumers”

Dave King, Altogether CEO, commented, “Brand engagement is too often considered a polar opposite to the accuracy of response-based digital campaigns. Meme’s outstanding creative credentials, combined with the analytics and measurability of eyefall and the addition of DC Interact’s innovation and expertise in e-commerce into the mix forms a perfect and powerful marriage of skills which will be of immense value to Altogether’s clients.”

Toby Gunton, Altogether Managing Director of Development Services said, “This is a wonderful opportunity for DC Interact to join a forward looking company with a unique position in the market. We’re delighted to be part of Altogether as it takes digital to the next level in communications history.”
For further information please contact Jessie Astbury Allen at Mantra PR on 020 7438 4910

Note to Editors:

About The Engine Group

The Engine Group (www.theenginegroup.com) was founded just over a year ago. Following the buyout of advertising agency WCRS from Havas, Engine has become one of the UK’s fastest growing integrated communications groups and is now the largest privately owned marketing services group in the UK. Through a strategy of organic growth and acquisition, Engine’s partner companies now include WCRS, Meme, dave, Slice, personal, Woo, Eyefall, AS Biss , Huge Entertainment and Karen Earl Sponsorship.

The Group has expertise in advertising, digital/online, brand consultancy, sales promotion and experiential marketing, direct marketing and brand response, search optimisation and marketing, public affairs, consumer PR, sponsorship and events. Engine’s clients benefit from the Group’s solution-neutral approach to communications challenges, with Engine drawing on expertise from its partner companies to provide clients with uniquely integrated and effective ways of targeting their audiences.

About Dave King

Dave King is founder of eyefall and CEO of Altogether, a digital marketing specialist.

He previously founded Hypnosis Media, the best-known music internet agency consulting to BMG, EMI, Warner and others, and disposed of the company in 2000. As MD of Virtue Tornado he structured their DRM and watermarking deal with EMI and as acting CEO of Ministry of Sound he developed the digital business plan for the brand. He has advised major brands and government bodies on digital strategy and re-structured a number of high-profile agencies and brands.

Dave is a member of the IAB Search Council and a regular speaker on Search, Mobile and Digital Marketing for the IDM (Institute of Direct Marketing), CIM (Chartered Institute of Marketing), RBI (Reed Business Information) , The Recruitment Society and others.