NZ’s Leading App Developer Buys Wellington Design Firm
Wellington design firm, Vertigo, has been bought by product lab and creative agency MEA Mobile for an undisclosed sum.
Vertigo, who has a long track record in the Wellington region with government agency and commercial clients, will
continue to operate as a full service design company.
MEA Mobile Director, Rod Macfarlane, says the purchase of Vertigo adds a strong Wellington presence to the group’s
offices in Auckland, Hamilton and New Haven in the United States.
“Last year we acquired Hamilton creative agency, Verdict, and there are clear synergies between Verdict and Vertigo
which will add to our creative capabilities for both traditional and new digital opportunities,” he said.
Mr. Macfarlane said MEA Mobile would continue to develop websites and mobile apps for both internal release and for
clients.
“Our skills in digital strategy and app development will expand Vertigo’s product offer in fields which are growing
rapidly,” he said. “We know clients of creative agencies want management of their brand image across all platforms –
traditional and digital,” said Mr. Macfarlane.
“Through Vertigo, we now offer Wellington clients boutique capability, specialists skills and responsiveness that is
unmatched.”
Mr Macfarlane said MEA Mobile is now the biggest independent developer of apps in New Zealand.
“We make apps across all platforms and for all types of devices. We know that over 60 percent of all internet activity
is now conducted on smartphones or tablets,” he said. “There is no escaping the importance of the mobile for all types
of communications.”
He said that even corporate communications like Annual Reports and company profiles were rapidly becoming digital
products.
“People can download some of the best annual reports as apps and explore them in a new and interactive way which engages
people within the organisation– it’s a creative process as well as a technical one.”
Mr Macfarlane said he believed that the company was well positioned for future growth.
ends