UPDATED: GroupM goes 24/7

Regional - WPP-owned 24/7 Real Media will be incorporated into GroupM to create what is claimed to be the largest search specialist within a marketing services holding company.

"The consolidation will mean this new search offering will have a greater geographic footprint than any competitor. The overall goal is to more closely integrate search with the overall communications planning and implementation service of GroupM's agencies," John Steedman, chairman and CEO GroupM APAC, said.

Singapore will be the search-hub for GroupM Search in APAC. The first markets to integrate search leads into the agencies over the next 6 months to establish Maxus Search, MediaCom Search, Mediaedge:cia Search and MindShare Search will be China, India and Australia.

GroupM Search teams will continue to support all client campaign management, optimization and back office services for all agency search businesses through local and regional hubs. Smaller markets will be managed fully by GroupM Search teams currently, with search leaders appointed in each office when they get to critical mass and the sufficient scale allows the delivery of full service by each agency.

Rosemary Lising, director of GroupM Search APAC, is tasked to develop search outside of Australia. She will work with Robbie Hills, MD of 24/7 Real Media Australia and new regional CEO for Outrider in the APAC, on the integration of GroupM properties with 24/7's search team and the migration of its clients to the Decide DNA technology platform.

With a current headcount of 400 globally in its search organization, all GroupM companies will have access to 24/7 Real Media's Decide DNA. In APAC GroupM has agency teams across 11 markets through which search services will be provided.