Gushcloud acquires Dubai-based talent and influencer firm TalentPlus

Gushcloud International has completed a majority acquisition of TalentPlus Dubai, a UAE-based talent management and influencer marketing firm, as it doubles down on growth across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

The acquisition follows an initial investment made 15 months ago and is part of Gushcloud’s broader strategy to scale its global creator management and monetisation platform, particularly in high-growth markets.

As part of the deal, TalentPlus will rebrand as Gushcloud TalentPlus, focusing on managing MENA creators for global representation while also representing and monetising international creators and intellectual property in the region.

Don't miss: Is the influencer agency space ripe for acquisitions? 

Michel Chahda will continue as CEO of Gushcloud TalentPlus and will be appointed partner at Gushcloud International. In a statement, the company said the move strengthens its capabilities across reserved media, creator IP development and cross-border monetisation, supporting creators and brands looking to scale across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Europe and the United States.

Gay Carr, chief of staff at Gushcloud International, has also relocated to the UAE to co-lead the unit. She will continue overseeing Gushcloud’s multi-year partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), which supports the establishment of Gushcloud’s regional headquarters for EMEA and India in Abu Dhabi.

The company said the partnership aligns with ADIO’s economic diversification goals, including building Abu Dhabi into a regional media and entertainment hub while supporting job creation and the growth of the digital creator ecosystem.

Gushcloud’s expansion comes amid strong growth in digital consumption across the region. According to Strategy&, digital content is projected to account for 46% of the region’s estimated US$22 billion media spend, while data from GlobalWebIndex shows MENA users maintain an average of 8.4 social media accounts and spend more than three hours daily on social platforms.

The acquisition strengthens Gushcloud’s footprint in MENA as competition intensifies among global creator management firms seeking scale, monetisation depth and cross-market reach.

“The UAE has done a great job in recent years marketing itself to creators and is becoming one of the most strategic markets globally for creators to live, work, play and build their businesses and family offices out of. Hence, this majority acquisition is a strategic step forward for us at Gushcloud to have more control in this large growing market that great adds value to the creator ecosystem that Gushcloud is building,” said Althea Lim, co-founder and group CEO of Gushcloud International.

She noted that Gushcloud’s earlier investment in TalentPlus laid the groundwork for a close working relationship with Chahda and his team, citing their deep regional experience, strong local relationships and creator-first approach. Lim added that bringing TalentPlus under majority ownership and appointing Chahda as a partner supports Gushcloud’s long-term ambition to scale its operations and deliver value for creators, brand partners and stakeholders across markets.

In tandem, Michael Chahda, CEO of Gushcloud TalentPlus said, "Combining our local insights with Gushcloud’s global network, Gushcloud TalentPlus will enable us to create a global path and more monetisable opportunities for the creators we manage and represent exclusively."

"With Gushcloud’s growing online media inventory , extensive marketing services, and proprietary AI and data tools and platforms, we can now provide accuracy for brands to connect more effectively to their audiences via the creators, allowing more ROI for the brands," he added. 

The acquisition builds on Gushcloud’s earlier push into the region. In August last year, the company unveiled plans to expand into MENA with the launch of its regional headquarters in Abu Dhabi, backed by a multi-year partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO).

At the time, Gushcloud said the move would strengthen its presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing creator economies while supporting Abu Dhabi’s ambition to become a global media and entertainment hub. The partnership is aimed at scaling operations across the region, fostering innovation and supporting talent development, as the global creator economy continues its rapid growth.

Related articles: 
Publicis Groupe to acquire SEA influencer agency HEPMIL     
Study: 62% of Singaporeans engage with sponsored influencer content   
SPH Media taps TSL Media Group’s X10 to boost influencer-led performance marketing