Essence
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryInformation Technology, Advertising, Marketing
Founded2005 (2005)
Number of locations
Australia, China, India, Indonesia,Japan, Singapore, South Korea, USA, Canada, Germany, UK
Key people
Kyoko Matsushita, CEO
Revenue$4 billion (total billings)[1]
Number of employees
1900[1]
ParentGroupM[2]
Websiteessenceglobal.com

Essence is a global data and measurement-driven full service agency. The agency has 20 offices in 12 countries and a staff of approximately 1,900. Essence manages over $4B in annualized media spend globally, with clients such as Google, The Financial Times,[3] Target,[1] NBCUniversal,[1] BP, FrieslandCampina,[4] L’Oreal and Tesco Mobile. In 2015 Essence became majority owned by WPP, and a part of GroupM, the WPP media investment management operation.[5] Essence specializes in strategy, digital marketing, digital creative, media planning and buying, mobile advertising and analytics. Kyoko Matsushita has taken over from Christian Juhl as CEO from 1 October 2019, Juhl has moved to be CEO of GroupM.[6]

Corporate history

Essence was founded by Matt Isaacs, Andrew Shebbeare and Andy Bonsall who previously worked together at Accucard, a credit-card company backed by LloydsTSB, where they developed an in-house digital marketing arm called Creative Services.[7]

In 2005 they created their own digital agency in London, Essence, with their first client being Carphone Warehouse boss, Sir Charles Dunstone.[8]

In 2006 Essence was hired by Google for a UK media and creative assignment. Today Essence is the digital media agency of record for Google in EMEA, NA and APAC.[9]

Essence has worked for domestic and international brands including L’Oreal, TalkTalk,[10] eBay,[11] Betfair,[12] Expedia,[13] Barclays,[14] YouTube,[15] Method,[16] DoubleDown Interactive,[17] HP, Viber,[18] Visa[19] and Intuit.[20]

Timeline

[31]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "GroupM's Essence Doubles Billings by Adding Target, NBCUniversal". Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  2. ^ Essence Company Profile, wpp.com
  3. ^ "Financial Times website celebrates 20-year anniversary with free 24-hour trial". The Drum. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  4. ^ "Yazoo owner FrieslandCampina appoints Essence to handle digital media across EMEA and South East Asia". The Drum. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  5. ^ "Why WPP's GroupM Is Buying Media Agency Essence Digital". Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  6. ^ "ESSENCE NAMES KYOKO MATSUSHITA AS ITS NEW GLOBAL CEO".
  7. ^ "Q&A: Matt Isaacs of £160m-turnover marketing agency Essence". LondonlovesBusiness. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  8. ^ "Growth Capital: Maths men are making it ad up nicely, thanks to all". Evening Standard. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Google and Essence". R3 Global 40. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  10. ^ "TalkTalk moves online media buying into CHI". Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  11. ^ "EBay awards Essence online account". Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  12. ^ "Betfair launches Euro Team Selector Facebook app with Essence". The Drum. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  13. ^ "Expedia appoints Essence to digital creative and media accounts". Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  14. ^ "Barclays Corporate Banking unveils new ads with Essence and Ogilvy". The Drum. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  15. ^ "When Clients Let Media Agencies Take Risks, Good Things Happen [Updated]". Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  16. ^ "Method's 'Messy' Ad Campaign". www.mediapost.com. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  17. ^ "Free-to-Play Online Casino Brand Bets on Mobile". Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  18. ^ "Viber Expands Global Footprint Increasing Focus on Marketing to the U.S." www.businesswire.com. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  19. ^ "Visa Selects Starcom For $200 Million Global Media Duties". www.mediapost.com. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  20. ^ "Essence Wins AOR Assignment From Intuit". www.mediapost.com. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  21. ^ O'Hear, Steve. "Social media agency Punktilio acquired by Essence – another exit for Michael Birch | TechCrunch". Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  22. ^ "Essence Finds Some in Bay Area, U.K. Agency Acquires San Francisco's Black Bag". www.mediapost.com. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  23. ^ "Essence extends US footprint with mobile agency Point Reach buyout". The Drum. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  24. ^ "The Asia impact of GroupM's Essence acquisition". Campaign Asia. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  25. ^ "Digital Catalyst: Q&A with Kyoko Matsushita, CEO of Essence APAC | LadyBoss". LadyBoss | Women Entrepreneurs | Women Leaders in Asia. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  26. ^ "The chief digital officer of WPP's GroupM tells us why his company just acquired Google's digital media agency Essence". Business Insider. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  27. ^ "Essence Unveils New India Office". www.groupm.com. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  28. ^ "WPP - Essence - Los Angeles Office Profile". www.wpp.com. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  29. ^ "Essence stärkt weltweite Präsenz mit der Gründung eines Standorts in Düsseldorf". www.groupm-germany.de (in German). Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  30. ^ "Essence takes over Maxus in Korea". Campaign Asia. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  31. ^ "Kapok Marketing". Retrieved 21 January 2021.
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