Deloitte Acquires Ad Agency Heat

Deloitte has acquired the San Francisco advertising agency Heat to build up its Deloitte Digital consulting practice.

Heat will operate within Deloitte Digital as a full-service advertising agency, working across traditional, digital and social media.

“Deloitte Digital has created a new market category called creative digital consulting,” said Deloitte Digital chief executive Andy Main, who is also a principal at Deloitte Consulting LLP. “Adding Heat’s extraordinary and award-winning creative capabilities is the perfect complement to our market-leading and long-established digital business.”

Heat was founded in 2004 and won eight Cannes Lions last year and was named Adweek's "Breakthrough Agency of the Year." President John Elder, founder Steve Stone, and managing director Mike Barrett will continue in their current roles with Heat.

"After an amazing 2015 we had a big decision to make—stay the course or shoot for bigger, more immediate creative opportunities. We picked the latter,” Stone said in a statement. “Joining forces with Deloitte gives us a ton of opportunities. It allows us to showcase our work on a bigger stage, provides us with greater resources, and gives us access to client relationships that will allow our creatives to do the best work of their careers. Others have approached us over the years, but nothing felt right to us. We're really fired up for this. Deloitte understands the importance of our brand and culture and will help us protect it as we grow together.”

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
M&A
MORE FROM ACCOUNTING TODAY