Media Release
NOTE: Embargoed until 5pm Wednesday 13th February 2008
Omnicom Inc Buys Into Kiwi Web Solutions Company
13 February 2008
Shift, a New Zealand web-based communications and multi media company, has attracted investment interest from one of the
world’s largest advertising and marketing giants, Omnicom Group.
Selwyn Feary, managing director of the 13-year-old company, says Omnicom’s “partnership” will allow it to become a
global player.
“Our team has been winning international “Webby” awards for a few years now but Omnicom will give us the extra business,
creative and strategic grunt to take us to the next level, “Mr Feary says.
“Our vision was always to introduce our specialist solutions to the world and Omnicom agencies are a global powerhouse
of creativity and strategic acumen that allows us to deliver on our strategy.”
The partnership will mean Omnicom is able to tap into Shift’s leading edge digital and online solutions through its TBWA
network of companies including TEQUILA, Integer, The Disruption Consultancy and Agency.com.
Mr Feary says Shift staff will get greater job satisfaction and a career boost as their talent receives greater exposure
to the demanding global digital market.
“The benefits of this partnership will not all be one way, “he says. “ We are confident that our Kiwi flair and
ingenuity will add depth and another layer of creativity and technical expertise to Omnicom.”
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About Shift:
Shift (www.shift.co.nz) is a privately owned New Zealand company with offices in Auckland and Wellington.
Widely acknowledged as one of New Zealand’s leading web communication and design agencies, it has received numerous
national and international accolades. They include the Webby (the equivalent of an Oscar for websites) for the
www.newzealand.com site in 2005, 2006, for which it was again nominated in 2007.
Shift’s core competencies are web strategy, creative visual design and technical design, focusing on communication
values and the end-user experience.
NZ clients include Tourism New Zealand, Inland Revenue, National Library of New Zealand, New Zealand Trade and
Enterprise, Ministry of Economic Development, Department of Labour and the Ministry of Culture and Heritage.
About Selwyn Feary:
As Shift’s founder, Selwyn is the driving force behind creating new opportunities for the company. He has held positions
on the advisory boards for industry liaison at Massey University’s Design School, Waikato University (Wanganui
Polytechnic Design) and Victoria University’s Master of Information Management (MIM). Selwyn was also involved with
Wellington City Council’s Creative Capital and Wired City ventures.
Between 1975 and 1995, Selwyn was involved with television production design and computer graphics, also working as set
designer on productions including Close to Home, The Governor, Mortimer’s Patch, Children of Fire Mountain, sports,
news, weather and elections sets, Ready to Roll, Ray Wolf Show and New Boots and Pants.
A particular highlight was his work conceptualising and scripting the original Television One Weather ‘Fly-by’.
ENDS