Ireland's Granite Digital Acquires Creative Media in North American Expansion Move

Cork-based Granite Digital has agreed to acquire Creative Media, an Omagh-based performance marketing specialist employing around 40 people, in a deal the company describes as central to its push to reach $40 million in revenues by 2027, with North America targeted to account for half that total.

The acquisition, announced March 16 via Business Wire, is Granite's second purchase of a Northern Ireland firm in seven months and brings the company's total acquisitions to nine since 2020. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Creative Media, headquartered in Co. Tyrone, brings a client base spanning the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden, Australia and Argentina. The entire team will remain in place following the deal, with founder Marcus Isherwood joining Granite as chief revenue officer alongside CEO Conor Buckley.

"After more than two decades building Creative Media, joining Granite Digital feels like the natural next step in our journey," Isherwood said. "We've built a fantastic international team, with a strong global client base, particularly in North America."

Buckley, a 2025 finalist in EY's Entrepreneur of the Year competition, was direct about the strategic intent behind the move. "The Creative Media agreed acquisition, Marcus's appointment, and the team we're building in the US are all part of a deliberate plan to bring Granite's model to the world's largest digital market," he said.

Granite, established in 2008 and described as Ireland's largest independent digital agency, currently operates with more than 170 digital specialists across offices in Dublin, Galway, Belfast, New York and Dubai. Its services span digital strategy, UX and UI design, complex platform development, data analytics, cloud services and performance marketing.

The acquisition builds on a $10 million investment Granite received from capital investor BGF, which Buckley said is directed at expanding the company's US footprint, scaling AI platforms globally and deepening service for Irish clients. "Scaling in high-growth, competitive markets like the US and the Middle East is a necessity to stay ahead," he said.

Granite recently added Joy Marcus to its executive board as non-executive chair, succeeding Alf Smiddy. Marcus brings more than 20 years of senior leadership experience from Condé Nast, Time Warner, MTV Networks, Barnes & Noble and DailyMotion. "I'm thrilled to join Granite at such an exciting stage in its growth, and to partner with BGF as we take the business to the next level," she said.

The announcement was made in the presence of Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald and Republic of Ireland Enterprise Minister Peter Burke, signalling cross-border political support for the deal. With the $40 million revenue target locked in and North America earmarked as the engine driving it, Granite's acquisition runway looks far from finished.