Smythe Dorward Lambert sells out to Omnicom Group

Organisational communications consultancy Smythe Dorward Lambert has been bought by the global communications firm, the Omnicom Group.

The firm, which develops international communications strategies and company process systems for large corporations, intends to expand its communication’s consultancy globally, with the help of Omnicom’s financial muscle.

“We have sold all our shares to Omnicom for one reason, to take our business forward in a more international way,” said Colette Dorward, managing director of Smythe Dorward Lambert. “If we want to develop more quickly as an international business, we need the backing of an enormous company.

“We are heading in two directions: North America and the Pacific Rim.

Those seem to be the hottest prospects. Omnicom can help us fund and manage that development,” said Dorward. “We plan to open more offices globally. We are keen to move fast.”

The firm, although now wholly owned by Omnicom, will retain its name and internal structure. It is relying on Omnicom to help it develop an international communication strategy and make Smythe Dorward Lambert into a global brand.

“For us it is about this discipline coming of age,” said Dorward. “It’s the recognition of communications consultancy, where it is seen as a mainstream activity and not a sideline. And we believe we have developed niche consulting in this area.”

This year Omnicom Group’s worldwide revenues increased 18 per cent to $631.8m in the third quarter of 1996.