Jellyfish Partners With Frontier Digital Marketing

Digital marketing experts Jellyfish have formed a global strategic partnership with Frontier Digital Marketing (FDM), part of the IREP Group, Japan’s leading digital marketing agency Group Company. The launch marks Jellyfish’s first partnership with an agency in ASIAPAC.

Following a lengthy RFP process and a face to face meeting with FDM President/CEO Shohei Shimoda and IREP President/CEO Shunsuke Konno, a mutual understanding was established and IREP announced that Jellyfish had been selected to be their strategic partner in Europe and the US. 

To strengthen this partnership, Jellyfish PPC Director Richard Hartley has recently relocated to FDM in Japan on a three-month placement. Richard will help manage FDM’s English-speaking accounts, integrating the Jellyfish methodologies and expertise to the mix. FDM along with IREP can then offer a seamless service to their clients in the US and the UK whilst learning new technologies, methodologies, customs, and business culture.

Rob Pierre, CEO at Jellyfish commented: “Being selected as IREP Group’s strategic partner for Europe and the US, following such a meticulous selection process, reinforces the position of Jellyfish as a leader - if not the leader - in digital marketing for our market place. This appointment gives us invaluable insight into the Japanese market whilst also strengthening our international capabilities and reach within ASIAPAC.

Pierre adds: “We originally received an introduction from IREP in 2010. They were branching out their SEM, SEO and social media projects into Europe and were looking to source local best practice partners plus build a long-term partnership with the right company. We then received an RFP in August 2010. However, in 2011, the enormous 9.0-magnitude earthquake and ensuing tsunami caused such disruption that business was put on hold while the country recovered.”

Richard Hartley, PPC Director at Jellyfish comments: “This is the first time Jellyfish has partnered with an agency in ASIAPAC. And to bring our collective PPC and marketing experience, values, working practices and cultures together in such an energetic, fast-paced environment will be fascinating and hugely rewarding. We’ll also be opening a constant communication loop to share learnings from both organisations to add value across the board. Not just for our clients, but for us on the ground too.”

Frontier Digital Marketing is dedicated to handling cross-border marketing. Established in 1997, Tokyo-based IREP achieved consolidated sales of over ¥47,000m (£273m) in 2013. The Group company employs over 450 people and has been listed on the Hercules Market of Osaka Securities Exchange since 2006. IREP provide a full range of SEM services from paid search, SEO and web analytics to landing page optimisation, and partner with global technology companies including Marin Software, Kenshoo, and Omniture.