GroupM Japan Launches Outrider

April 01, 2009

GroupM Japan, the largest and fasting growing international media network in Japan (RECMA June 2008), parent company of Maxus, MediaCom, Mediaedge:cia and MindShare, announced the launch of Outrider Japan. www.outriderjapan.jp

With headquarters in the US, and over 14 years of search experience, Outrider is a leading global search marketing agency, and recognised by Forrester Research as a leader in search strategy, management and client service, working with category-leading clients including: AT&T, Dell, AstraZeneca, Showtime, Microsoft, Chevron, Diageo and more.

In addition to the agency structures, Outrider will provide comprehensive, integrated search marketing strategy for clients that are not served by the rest of GroupM.

The search team now totals 26, 19 of whom formerly worked with Sozon Inc., an original pioneer of search in Japan, is a strong blend of senior bilingual search professionals providing a full offering of paid search, organic search, social search, mobile search, analytics, website optimisation, consulting and boasts its own technology leveraging the Decide DNA platform owned by parent company WPP. They have a strong mix of local and international clients (including other agencies) for which they execute global search marketing services.

“We are delighted with so many of the ex Sozon people and their loyal clients in joining the GroupM Search operations in Japan. Additionally, this talent allows us to us to immediately step up our in-house Search capabilities and bring those services to play on our existing GroupM clients.” said Darragh Hardy, CEO GroupM Japan.

GroupM Search, is the only search marketing agency group that now has fully operational teams in all of the major search markets in Asia Pacific. (Japan, ANZ, China, Korea, India, Hong Kong, Singapore). This unmatched geographic footprint means that our clients know they will be dealing with one company for all their search requirements.

“Our new colleagues are regionally and globally respected as Japanese Search Marketing experts. For prospective clients; whether Japanese or global companies looking to target Japan, Korea, or other markets, they can be assured that they have a market leading and highly experienced search team looking after their investment in these key markets” said Robbie Hills, CEO GroupM Search APAC.

About GroupM

GroupM is the leading global media investment management operation and part of the WPP family. Worldwide billings US$60.51 bn projected 2006 (RECMA July 2006). 31% share of global network business, 402 offices in 81 countries, 14,000 staff worldwide.

About Outrider

Outrider is a leading global search marketing agency, specialising in holistic, advanced search marketing strategies that are integrated with advertisers’ cross-channel media planning. Outrider is a WPP company and a division of GroupM, WPP’s media buying and planning arm responsible for 30% of the world's media buying. With North American headquarters in St. Louis, Mo., Outrider has offices in New York, Chicago, Seattle, and throughout the EMEA and APAC regions, creating a network of 30 global offices serving more than 40 countries.

For the Outrider Japan site refer to www.outriderjapan.jp and for the global site refer to www.outrider.com.

For further information contact:

Darragh Hardy
GroupM
CEO, Japan

DID: +81 3 5791 2756

Robbie Hills
GroupM
CEO, AsiaPacific GroupM Search

DID: +65 65312649