Anthony Farah, the founder of Aussie digital agency, Vivant Digital, is now the digital strategy and iX leader in A/NZ for IBM’s iX business, following the completion of his company’s acquisition by the global integrator.
As reported by sister publication, CMO, IBM revealed plans in early October to buy the local agency, which claimed companies like CBA, Paypal, Westpac, Qantas and AustralianSuper among its clients prior to the acquisition.
Vivant had made a name for itself by using its technology to gain insights from behavioural science, data and technology for Australian start-ups and corporates, primarily in the financial services and distribution industries.
“Customer experience is a critical element as our clients develop their business strategy,” IBM iX global leader, Paul Papas, said at the time. “IBM shares a similar design, consulting and management philosophy with Vivant, and our combined teams will raise the bar for experience-led, design driven, digital reinvention.”
The move was aimed at giving the integrator’s internal digital agency, Interactive Experience (iX), additional scope and capability to address the growing need of clients in the local market seeking transformation though innovative digital business models and bold customer experiences.
“This is an exciting direction for Vivant clients and employees. We now have scale and greater opportunity to address the growing needs of CEOs and innovation leaders willing to disrupt the market by seeking out new business models,” Farah said at the time. “We see it as converging the best of big with the best of small."
It was announced at the time that Farah would take the role of digital strategy and iX leader for IBM Australia and New Zealand.
Now, IBM’s acquisition of Vivant has reached completion, with Farah now joining IBM’s ranks in the local market.
"We warmly welcome Vivant to our IBM iX team of renegades and realists” Papas said. “At IBM iX, we blend progressive strategy, creative vision, and transformational technology to help our clients with their digital reinvention journeys.
“Vivant strategically extends our capabilities to meet growing market demands in the region,” he said.
IBM claims that its iX business is now one of the world’s largest digital agencies and global business design partners.
The organisation claims multi-disciplinary teams of designers, technology experts and industry strategists who work side-by-side with clients across more than 36 IBM Studios worldwide.
