ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--St. Louis’ longest running media agency begins an important new era at the end of January. DICOM Marketing Services, the three-decade-old media buying agency has been purchased for an undisclosed sum by True Independent Holdings, one of the fastest growing media groups in North America. Following successful closing of the acquisition January 31, 2022, DICOM will become part of True Media, the flagship media buying and planning agency within the True holdings group.
Effective February 1, 2022, all DICOM employees will join True Media at the agency’s St. Louis office located in the Westport area. The deal requires no layoffs and brings the True Media headcount to over 175 media strategists, planners, analysts and buyers across six offices, including Columbia, MO; Kansas City, MO; St. Louis, MO; Minneapolis, MN; Toronto, ON; and Calgary, AB. DICOM co-founders Jim Steward and Dave Travers will join the new, combined True leadership team.
“DICOM has been a recognized name and real force in shaping the media strategies and growth for St. Louis-based companies and other businesses across the Midwest for 30 years,” said Jack Miller, chief executive officer, True Independent Holdings. “Jim, Dave and their whole team have built an enviable reputation for long-term client relationships, stellar service and consistent success. Those are values we obviously share at True Media but beyond that this agreement makes total sense as we strengthen our group of media strategy, analytics and digital agencies to provide even greater value and services to our growing client portfolio.”
DICOM becomes the third agency purchased by True Independent Holdings as part of a nationwide strategy to grow a group of specialty agencies offering integrated media strategy, programmatic, analytics and buying services to a growing list of industry-leading clients in finance, healthcare, tourism, agriculture, retail, and CPG. In addition to True Media, the group also includes digital programmatic agency Coegi and data analytics specialty agency RADaR.
The move follows the appointment in October 2020 of new True Media president Preston Waller. Waller’s first year saw across-the-board organic client growth and a focus on senior talent development. In late 2021, appointments included Nisha Chandrasekar, who joins True Media as the firm’s first director of performance media, and senior leadership team additions Brian Kieser as activation strategy director and Mike Oelhafen as associate media director.
“We share a common vision for excellence with Jack and his whole team at True Media,” said Jim Steward, partner, DICOM. “But more than that, as we transition over the coming weeks and months, each and every one of our, formerly DICOM, clients will enjoy access to an increased bench of industry-leading talent, national and global capabilities and an even greater ability to negotiate and buy the best media solutions to help their businesses at scale. It’s a win win all-around.”
True Media was founded in 2005 and DICOM in 1989. More information: truemediaservices.com.
