International acquisition for Shannon-based marketing agency

A DIGITAL marketing agency headquartered in the Shannon Free Zone has made a major international acquisition.

Core Optimisation has bought PR agency ClearStory, which has bases in Dublin, Germany and Thailand.

The purchase forms part of a broader €500,000 investment by Core in expanding its operations to North America and the United Arab Emirates.

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Founded in 2015 by Caroline Dunlea and David Brett, Core Optimisation provides digital marketing services including search engine optimisation, paid social media appearances and digital strategic consultancy.

It has an extensive client book across multiple sectors including global brands such as Waterwipes, Tirlan Country Life, Limerick firm Kirby Group and Aryzta.

It’s anticipated the acquisition of ClearStory International will accelerate this growth by integrating ClearStory’s tech, finance, defence and hospitality focused PR client base and expanding Core’s capabilities as a truly integrated digital marketing and PR consultancy agency.

Ms Dunlea said: “We are delighted to acquire ClearStory International as we focus on international markets. This acquisition strengthens our global capabilities and enhances our ability to offer a fully integrated digital marketing and PR service to our growing client base. As we are in the artificial intelligence era, brands need cohesive, data-led narratives across every channel, and our clients are increasingly seeking partners who can anticipate and respond to their evolving needs.”

ClearStory chief executive and founder James McCann added: “We’re excited to bring our deep expertise in storytelling and reputation building to Core Optimisation, as we pursue a shared ambition to build a world-renowned, Irish-owned agency.”