Story by: Victoria Lea

PERTH : One week after buying up Melbourne’s "multimillion-dollar" Dux, creative recruiter Aquent is continuing its expansion, today purchasing Perth-based Hire Performers for an undisclosed sum.

The deal, on the back of a March purchase of Adelaide’s ArtStar, brings Aquent’s agency count to 16 across the Asia Pacific, five within Australia, and an overall headcount of 150. Three years ago, the firm was at 23 staff across just seven offices.

The immediate goal for the Australian arms of Aquent is now consolidation and market  growth, said Aquent Asia Pacific CEO Greg Savage.

“There are no other acquisitions pending,” Savage said.

“You kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince. We would only buy a business if it brought us a strategic opportunity - like getting into Perth or dominating the Melbourne market - so certainly while we are considering [other options], none are anywhere near fruition yet.”

The three staff at Hire Performers have been offered jobs in the deal, with former owner Karen Thomson remaining on as Perth agency manager. In Melbourne , last week’s announcement of the Dux buy has all but one accountant at the now 17-strong firm remaining on.

Savage said he saw considerable opportunities for Aquent's new Perth office to expand its existing business, and to secure the mantle of the city’s leader in creative, advertising and marketing recruitment. He is looking to hire a new creative recruiter immediately, with a view to hiring marketing and advertising specialists in the near future.

“Perth is a vibrant economy, riding on the back of a resources and a mining boom, and there’s a lot of commercial activity,” Savage said.

“We see that there is an opportunity to grow this business quite substantially. I would say that, in creative staffing, we may be there already but we want to consolidate that within a year. Advertising is the same time frame and, while marketing may take longer, certainly two years is our goal.”

Today’s Perth acquisition comes one week after Aquent announced its purchase of Melbourne competitor Dux Creative Consultants. Savage declined to comment on the sums paid for the two firms, but said that Dux had a “multimillion-dollar” turnover.

“These two companies have great reputations in their cities, with long-standing substantial clients lists. Combining them creates a marriage of their skills in the market and our resources," he said.

“Ultimately, it is good for candidates - we can offer more choice.”