McClatchy Opens Data-Driven Agency excelerate

In the US, newspaper and Internet publisher McClatchy has launched a full-service digital agency called excelerate, which will design, track and measure customized marketing plans for advertisers.

The new firm will offer local and regional ad clients a combination of research, digital and media services, along with web site creation, SEO, social media management, and video and branded content production. Owned by McClatchy, excelerate has separate executive, creative and national sales teams led by General Manager Andrea Rowan (pictured), who joined earlier this year with a fifteen-year background in digital media and marketing. Most recently, she served as Digital Agency Director at SmartResearch Digital, and previously she held senior roles at Dex Media, and National CineMedia.

McClatchy President and CEO Pat Talamantes says the new business 'harnesses McClatchy's deep portfolio of media products, services and partnerships to deliver digital and traditional marketing plans to advertising clients', and 'concentrates the wealth of [the firm's existing] internal assets and external digital partnerships into one cohesive package'.

Web sites: www.mcclatchy.com and www.exceleratedigital.com .