Publicis / Moxie Interactive

Publicis Groupe's Zenith Media has acquired Moxie Interactive, an Atlanta-based i-shop.

The move expands Zenith's digital offering beyond online planning and buying, bringing creative, search engine and e-mail marketing, mobile and gaming, viral, technology development and hosting, interactive kiosks, and e-commerce into the fold.

Terms were not disclosed, but sources said the acquisition would bring Zenith's digital billings to more than $300 million annually.

The two agencies have teamed for five years on the Verizon Wireless account, with Moxie serving as lead digital agency and Zenith as the client's primary media shop.

Moxie, with 110 employees, will function as Zenith's branded digital offering, and the Zenith digital team (about 50 staffers split between New York and San Francisco) will be integrated into the Moxie operation. In addition, some members the digital team will be attached to client services teams throughout Zenith.

Moxie founder and CEO Kris Zagoria will oversee the merged digital operation, reporting to Jones. Zagoria, who founded the agency in 2000, will remain based in Atlanta.

In addition to Verizon, other Moxie clients include Best Buy, Blockbuster, Coca-Cola, Earthlink, Home Depot, Turner Broadcasting, Saks and UPS.

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