The IT Marketing Agency acquired by Sherpa Marketing

Bedford-based channel services firm The IT Marketing Agency has been acquired by Sherpa Marketing for an undisclosed sum.

The acquisition will go ahead on July 1st and both businesses will continue to serve their respective clients.

While the same back office team will be in place, The IT Marketing Agency’s founder Gemma Telford will take a step back from the operation side in August, as she starts a new role with a US software vendor. But she will remain involved in the business in an advisory role.

Telford said in an open and honest blog post: "Setting up, building and running The IT Marketing Agency has been an absolute privilege. There have been some spectacular highlights, shared with my team and my clients, and a few pretty dark days. As a person I know I’ve been tested and grown. And I know the time is right now to hand the reins to someone else.

"Over the next few weeks I’ll be introducing Tom and his team to my existing contacts and clients and I know they will do a great job of looking after everyone. If you’ve got a marketing need and you’re in the IT sector, then get in touch.

"An absolutely massive thank you to everyone that has supported me, advised me, worked with me, alongside me or listened to me over the last three years. I’m so glad to have had the experience and know that Sherpa will take The IT Marketing Agency to the next level."

The client-facing side of The IT Marketing Agency’s business will be taken over by the new owner – Sherpa CEO Tom Perry – and his team. 

Perry said: "Marketing for technology businesses is a specialist discipline, and four years ago, when The IT Marketing Agency was set up, there was a lack of agencies that were truly performing in the space.

"Since then, The IT Marketing Agency has been recognised and shortlisted in every set of marketing awards it has entered – being shortlisted as Agency of the Year at the B2B Marketing Awards in its first year of business, and every year since at the CRN Channel Awards, S&M Awards, PCR Awards and the business was shortlisted in the national Growth Accelerator awards in 2015.

"“We have been aware of the fantastic progress made by the IT Marketing Agency and the client list it has built over the last three years and so we are absolutely delighted to be acquiring the business.

"Merging together, and with a rigid focus on the technology space, both Sherpa and The IT Marketing Agency are specialist agencies that will now bring an even wider set of marketing services to the market for our clients.

"Technology marketing is moving at an incredible pace and I truly believe the new combined team offers technology companies a ‘go-to’ marketing agency that can drive significant business growth."

The IT Marketing Agency has worked with companies including Avnet Embedded, Tech Data, CompTIA, Ingram Micro, Netgear, AVG Business and varuous resellers. The company also set up The IT Marketing Leaders’ Forum and has run events to share best practice among senior tech marketing leaders.

Sherpa has also specialised in technology marketing, often focusing on the delivery of marketing programs for US vendors.

Both businesses will continue to run as normal during and after the acquisition.