Deepend, one of Australia’s largest independent digital experience and design agencies, and Versa, first to market and leading voice experience (VX) agency, have merged.
The new digital design and voice experience (VX) powerhouse will be known as Versa.
Deepend Melbourne originally launched Versa in 2017 as the first enterprise level VX agency in Australia. It established itself quickly as a pioneering and innovative force in the developing VX market, won Emerging Agency of the Year at both Mumbrella’s and B&T’s Agency of the Year Awards 2018. Deepend recently won AdNews’ Employer of the Year.
Kath Blackham, founder and chief executive officer of Versa, commented, “This is an extremely exciting new venture and one that establishes Versa as an expanded yet truly independent agency sitting at the forefront of where marketing and technology meet. We are experts in building robust, future-proofed and large-scale digital platforms for clients that take full advantage of the possibilities offered by AI, augmented reality and voice technology.”
With the growth of devices such as Google Home and Amazon Alexa, Versa has identified voice experience as essential for a brand’s ongoing ability to connect with customers in a market where it’s predicted that 30% of all web-browsing sessions will be done without a screen by 2020. The new agency brings together an interdisciplinary team of 50+ creatives, strategists and technological specialists, and is is uniquely positioned to push the possibilities of voice and AI.
“We’re new and improved. The VERSA culture is exceptionally special and I’d go so far to say as unrivalled – it’s about passion, innovation and expertise. Essentially, we’re about connecting with customers in more meaningful ways to make businesses more successful,” stated managing director, Jonny Clow.
Clow recently became managing director helm at Versa, bringing 20 years’ experience across the UK, USA and Australia and very many awards with him. Clow founded BD Network in Melbourne in 2010, which went on to become Australia’s Best Emerging Agency in 2011 (AdNews) and Australia’s Best Small Agency of 2013 (AdNews). Recently, he was client services director at VMLY&R.
Versa has also acquired technical director, Guill Rodas, who joined the business following 10 years at Isobar.
Versa has experienced year on year revenue growth at 46% and gained a portfolio of brands such as beyondblue, Dairy Australia, Nova, Village Cinemas, Domino’s, nib, Red Cross and Scenic. It has an aggressive expansion plan in place, with Versa Sydney, Singapore and US offices underway, was recently featured on ABC News, Triple J, Today, Sunrise, BBC and regarding its move to a 4-day working week, which has been trialled since July 2018 with great success.
To celebrate its launch to the market and to discuss what’s now and next in VX, Versa is hosting an industry breakfast in Sydney on June 13th at 7.30am – Beta Bar, 238 Castlereagh Street.
Register here.
