8 May 2018: The Financial Times today announces the launch of FT Marketing Services, a new end-to-end commercial offering from the FT Group. It integrates the capabilities of the FT’s advertising department and FT Live with two recently acquired businesses - Alpha Grid - an award-winning production and content studio and Longitude - a specialist research and thought leadership agency.
FT chief commercial officer, Jon Slade, said: “We have identified an appetite among our clients for a comprehensive service that streamlines the process of conceiving and delivering a brilliant, C-Suite targeted campaign.
“By combining the engagement and convening powers of FT Live and our advertising platforms with Alpha Grid’s storytelling and Longitude’s research capabilities, we can provide clients with a truly unified approach to marketing, from strategy to execution.”
The FT has been shortlisted for Commercial Team of the Year at the 2018 British Media Awards in recognition of its consistent outperformance of the market and ability to capitalise on opportunity, delivering 64 percent growth in branded content revenue year on year in 2017. The launch of FT Marketing Services marks the next evolution of its competitive positioning.
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For more information contact:
Vicky Taylor | 0207 873 4691 | vicky.taylor@ft.com
About the Financial Times
The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading business news organisations, recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. The FT marks 130 years in 2018 with a record paying readership of more than 930,000. The FT is now a majority digital content business, with digital subscriptions up to 739,554, representing more than three-quarters of the total paying audience. Content revenues represent almost two-thirds of total revenues, double the share of five years ago.
About Alpha Grid
Alpha Grid is a media company specialising in delivering multiplatform content to the intellectually curious – from senior decision-makers to ambitious millennials. We’re about quality content, high-level audiences, a global outlook, a journalistic mindset and using smart content to grow your business. We do video, digital, social, publishing, events, strategy and research and we work globally, from our UK hub.
About Longitude
Since it was founded in 2011, Longitude has experienced rapid growth and now has a team of 33 based in its London offices. In 2016, it was recognised as one of the Leap 100, the UK’s fastest-growing companies according to City AM and Mishcon de Reya and, in 2017, it was chosen as one of the FT1000, the 1000 fastest-growing companies in Europe. Longitude has more than 40 multinational clients spanning sectors including professional services, financial services, technology, and industrials and manufacturing.