March 16, 2026 — Cork, Ireland
Granite Digital, Ireland’s largest independent digital agency, announced an agreement to acquire Creative Media, a performance marketing specialist founded in Northern Ireland, for an undisclosed sum. The deal, Granite’s ninth acquisition since 2020 and second in Northern Ireland, aims to expand the agency’s North American footprint and target $40 million in revenues by 2027, with half from North America.
The Cork-based Granite, which raised $10 million in growth capital from BGF last year, seeks to leverage Creative Media’s 25 years of North American expertise. Creative Media, based in Omagh, Co Tyrone, employs around 40 people who will remain in place post-acquisition.
Strategic Expansion and Appointments
The acquisition follows a 400% year-on-year increase in Granite’s organic North American revenue. Combined, the firms will exceed 200 digital specialists across four continents, serving enterprise clients like Intel, Pepsi, Sysco, Iron Mountain, Concentrix, Aer Lingus, Tesco, and Dalata Hotel Group.
Key senior appointments include Marcus Isherwood, Creative Media’s founder and CEO, as Granite’s Chief Revenue Officer, working with US-based Chief Commercial Officer Rob Carpenter. Joy Marcus, a US digital media veteran from Condé Nast, Time Warner, and MTV Networks, joins as Non-Executive Chair.
Executive Statements
“North America has always been central to our growth strategy. 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.”
— Conor Buckley, CEO of Granite Digital
“I’ve spent 25 years building client relationships in North America with a simple philosophy: every dollar spent on marketing has to deliver a measurable return. That’s exactly how Granite operates, but at enterprise scale.”
— Marcus Isherwood, incoming Chief Revenue Officer
“After more than two decades building Creative Media, joining Granite Digital feels like the natural next step… This partnership allows us to continue growing while creating even more opportunities for our team and our clients.”
— Marcus Isherwood, per The Irish News
The deal was confirmed at a Manhattan event attended by Northern Ireland’s Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald and Ireland’s Enterprise Minister Peter Burke.
Company Backgrounds
Founded in 2009, Granite specializes in strategy, engineering, design, data, marketing, AI, and more, with a Net Promoter Score of 71 and 87% repeat business. Creative Media, established around 2000, exports 65% of services to North America, with clients in the US, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden, Australia, and Argentina. This marks Granite’s most significant North American step.