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Media agency STROOM and performance agency M2|OC integrate under the STROOM brand

STROOM agency to focus on "Mediacommerce," pioneering a new category of media agencies.

Amsterdam, June 2024

Media agencies M2|OC and STROOM, both part of the Candid platform, announce the integration of their agencies. From July 3, they will operate jointly under the name STROOM: Energy for growth. The agency will be led by Samantha Catsburg (CEO), formerly Managing Director of STROOM. Catsburg will be supported by Chief Client Officer Lars Vink (formerly Managing Director of M2|OC) and Chief Financial Officer Dennis van der Geer. Together, they form the management of the media and performance agency.

Integration
This integration enables the agency to offer a broader and enhanced range of services. The performance and e-commerce specialists from M2|OC add significant value to the current STROOM, while M2|OC clients now have access to an even more comprehensive consultant team. The agency comprises a total of 90 media specialists with offices in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The media performance agency STROOM is now the best and most complete local agency, offering an alternative to large international networks.

Mediacommerce: First in Category
Many brands are currently reaching a growth ceiling, where additional media investment yields diminishing returns in terms of reach and revenue. STROOM focuses on sustainable growth through Mediacommerce: a data-driven approach that makes brand and performance media investments fully accountable, with business results as the leading factor.

This proposition forms a new category in the communication landscape. A newly developed model underpins this approach: by making long-term brand developments measurable in the short term, effective steering on brand and performance becomes possible.

"Clients increasingly need growth consultancy, guidance on accountable media, and both short-term sales and long-term brand building," says Samantha Catsburg, CEO of STROOM. "Breaking through the 'performance ceiling' is relevant for all brands. I consider it a great honor to guide this team of 90 dedicated colleagues.

"Rudiger Wanck, CEO of the Candid platform, adds: "Our platform's mission is to reduce complexity in the rapidly evolving media and marketing industry. By bringing these agencies together, we maintain our media specialization - alongside our brand and comms pillar - while simultaneously combining the strengths of two robust agencies. STROOM can not only serve its clients even better but also joins the ranks of the largest media agencies in the Netherlands in terms of volume."

Portfolio
The agency collectively works for national and international A-brands such as ENGIE, Nintendo, DPG, Hero, Omoda, Univé, Amazon Ring, Vakantiediscounter, Maxi-Cosi, Blokker, Delta Fiber, BSH, Dille & Kamille, AFAS software, PwC, Playmobil, Makro, and Bike Totaal.

STROOM
The originally Rotterdam-based agency, founded in 2002, has experienced rapid development in recent years. Following a reorganization in 2020 and a merger with De Media Maatschap in 2022, they consistently won new accounts such as PwC, Dille & Kamille, Playmobil, Alliander and ONVZ insurance. The agency was chosen as Agency of the Year for three consecutive years by EMERCE, MT1000, and FONK. STROOM is not just about media. It's a communication partner for clients, providing strategic insights on brand and marketing communication for optimal media advice.

M2|OC
M2Media and Online Company have a rich history before merging into M2|OC in 2023. M2Media was founded 21 years ago in 2003, a Hilversum-based media agency specializing in strategy and media investments. Online Company originated 18 years ago in 2006, specializing in performance marketing, e-commerce, and digital channels.

Press Contact:
Martijn Jaartsveld, Strategy Director STROOM
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
06 38 14 49 28

About Candid
We are Candid. We are creating the next generation global full-service marketing and communications group, based in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp, and London. By removing complexity through the application of connected technology and AI, we are the first player to truly break down the silos in our industry.As a platform, we enable our specialized agencies to focus on what they do best: individually and collectively creating meaningful and authentic marketing and communications solutions that drive growth for their clients and their brands. As a platform, we don't blend our disciplines but develop three pillars of dedicated specialist agencies organized around Brand, Comms, and Media.

Executive Board STROOM (from left to right): Chief Client Officer Lars Vink, Chief Executive Officer Samantha Catsburg en Chief Financial Officer Dennis van der Geer.