O2 FORMS A STRATEGIC JV WITH THINKWIZE IN SYRIA

O2, the independent regional marketing network, has closed an acquisition deal with Thinkwize the Syrian based research agency to expand its market and marketing research operations in the Middle East and better serve their clients.

According to O2’s Managing Director, Mr. Mohammed Johmani, this sort of research will be crucial for local companies that are facing international competition and need to fortify their position, locally and globally.

“Since the establishment of O2, the bleeding edge we aimed for was to craft methods that upholster us from other service providers not only on the regional level, yet also globally, by drawing-in the research to the heart of O2 to elevate our competitive standards even higher. Our clients and partners are the primary benefiters of this step. As a main competitor amongst specialized market research companies in the region, Thinkwize was the obvious choice due to its experience in the research field”, concluded Mr. Johmani.

Thinkwize, which is located in Damascus Syria, conducts market research studies throughout the Levant; Jordan, Lebanon and Syria and has worked with numerous prestigious international companies such as Coca-Cola and P&G in addition to many high profile  local companies.

Commenting on the acquisition, General Manager of Thinkwize, Talal Hallak said:
“The acquisition of Thinkwize by O2 will ensure that we continue to move forwards and expand into new territories. Since 2005 we have been working with many global companies to provide market and marketing research services in the Middle East. Based on the positive feedback from our clients and increasing number of requests for our market research services outside the Levant, the acquisition by O2 made perfect sense.”

O2 was chosen as the preferred company to acquire Thinkwize due to its strong presence in the Middle East and shared vision to go beyond traditional marketing practices and revolutionize the world of communications.

As a fully fledged communications network that offers Marketing consultancy, Market research, advertising, public relations and interactive services, the O2 Network aims to put the consumers, the customers, the market, and the audiences at the core of its clients’ marketing plans and strategies.

“As one of the fast growing markets in the region, the communications industry faces tough competition. By acquiring Thinkwize our aim is to further differentiate ourselves in the market whilst at the same time offering our clients in the Middle East and GCC more services,’’ added Mohammed Johmani.

Since its establishment in 2005, O2 has grown rapidly and is now perceived as one of the fastest growing networks in the region and the only independent network to grow regionally without affiliation to any global players. To-date, the O2 Network consist of 80 employees which are diversified into 4 sub-agencies, O2 interactive, O2 Marketing Communications, O2 Public Relations, and O2 Branding through-out 7 offices in the region. Its target is 100 employees and 10 offices by 2010.