Aegis Media acquires Japanese performance marketing and search agency Hablar

Following the acquisition, which is in line with the Aegis Group strategy of increasing its digital profile and capabilities, Hablar will operate as iProspect Japan. According to the agency, the existing iProspect Japan assets will be merged into Hablar.

Takahiro Doi, who has been helming the agency, will continue to lead the merged entity as CEO, reporting to Yusuke Akiba, CEO of Aegis Media Japan.

David Holtham, CEO of Aegis Media North Asia, said, “With Japan’s search market still expecting double-digit growth in the coming years, we are looking forward to continuing this great progress under the global iProspect brand.”

Doi said the merger creates "a much larger canvas to develop" as well as access to global tools and knowledge.

Hablar, located in Tokyo, focuses on search marketing and digital performance media. Established in 2003, it has been working work with local advertising agencies including Carat, Nihon Keizai Advertising, Nikkeisha Advertising, Piped Bits and Willgate.