Australian digital agency Juicebox looks towards Southeast Asia, acquiring major stake in Indonesian Agency – Island Media

Western Australian based digital agency, Juicebox has acquired a major shareholding in Island Media, a branding and digital agency based in Indonesia. This strategic merger marks a significant leap forward for Juicebox, unlocking new market opportunities in the region, while expanding the capabilities and capacity of both teams, and creating new collaborative pathways for innovation that will ultimately translate into superior client engagements and outcomes. Juicebox took out Campaign Brief’s Western Australian Digital Agency of the Year award at this year’s Western Australian awards.

With this acquisition, Juicebox is out to expand its position as a trailblazer in the digital landscape, capitalising on Island Media’s experience and network to extend its footprint into Southeast Asia. The fusion of Juicebox’s strategic, creative design and technical prowess with Island Media’s in-depth knowledge of the Indonesian market promises to reshape and extend its capacity to deliver its award winning digital products and experiences to leading brands across the region.

Chris Nelson, Managing Director of Juicebox, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Island Media into the Juicebox family. This acquisition is not just about expanding our business; it’s about tapping into a wealth of talent, experience, and insights. We are confident that by joining forces, we will be able to unlock synergies that redefine our offering and improve every client engagement.”

Years in the making, this merger rides a wave of recent announcements and strategic agreements made by Western Australian State Premier, Roger Cook, that seek to strengthen ties between the Western Australian and Indonesian business communities, as both countries seek to capitalise on the opportunities created by global decarbonisation and digitisation megatrends.

Premier Roger Cook at the 2023 ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Jakarta, said: “Southeast Asia has some of the world’s fastest growing economies which offer a huge range of opportunities for WA to engage in mutually beneficial trade and investment.

“Investment and trade is the lifeblood of the Western Australian economy and my Government is dedicated to diversifying its exports and strengthening engagement across the region. Now is the time that economic and trade relationships provide an important catalyst for the challenges we confront.”

Western Australia has always had a unique north-facing orientation due to the shared time zone and proximity to major business hubs in Southeast Asia, and Juicebox is looking to play a critical role in deepening regional relationships by providing cross-border support for companies seeking strategic branding, marketing communications and best-in-class digital products and experiences to better connect with audiences and stakeholders in both jurisdictions.

Joel Pember, Director and Co-founder of Juicebox, commented that a recent business tour across Indonesia’s two largest cities had provided further motivation, whereby he learned that Indonesia’s digital economy was expected to grow rapidly from 5.8% to 20% of its national GDP by 2025. Furthermore, after touring the Apple Developer Academy in Surabaya, he also learned that Indonesia currently ranks fifth in the smartphone superpower rankings by size, with an 80% device adoption rate by its approx 270 million population. The country is also the sixth in the world and highest in Southeast Asia for start-ups, demonstrating the country’s immense creative energy and entrepreneurial spirit.

Jonathan Cross, Managing Director of Island Media, says: “Becoming a part of Juicebox is an exciting chapter for Island Media. We are proud of what we have achieved over the last decade in the Indonesian market, and with Juicebox’s support and integration of our teams, we are eager to deepen our capabilities and expand our market leadership here and across the wider region.”

As Juicebox continues to evolve, this strategic merger aligns seamlessly with its vision of becoming a global leader in the delivery of digital strategies, products and experiences that deliver measurable impact for ambitious clients.

“This acquisition stands as a testament to Juicebox’s obsession with pushing boundaries, exploring new horizons, and seeking new avenues for growth,” said Pember.

With Island Media now in its fold, Juicebox expects the fusion of diverse talents, multicultural perspectives and regional market insights to drive a new era of innovation and creativity in the continued pursuit of excellence.