• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, August 2, 2007

London-based Aegis Group continues to expand its burgeoning Isobar network - already the world's largest digital advertising services group - announcing the acquisition of Ion Global, a digital marketing shop with offices in Seoul, Korea; San Francisco and Hong Kong, for about $1 million. Each of Ion's three operations has developed different capabilities, which will each be integrated into an existing regional Isobar operation.

Ion's largest business, in Seoul, offers mobile, Web strategy, site construction, device user interface and graphical user interface consulting and design services in Korea, which is the highest broadband connectivity market in the world and a leader in mobile technology development. Ion Global Korea will retain its branding in that market.

In Hong Kong, Ion's oldest market, it provides Web strategy, site construction, interactive marketing and software customization services, and will be re-branded as wwwins consulting, which is the name of Isobar's existing agency in that region. Following the acquisition, wwwins Consulting Greater China will operate from offices in Taipei, Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong with an organization of more than 200 employees.

Ion Global in San Francisco will be merged with Isobar's Molecular consulting division, which already has offices in San Francisco, Boston and New York. Both businesses specialize in Internet consulting and user experience strategies. Ion's operations will be re-branded as Molecular. "Korea, Hong Kong and the West Coast are all trendsetting hubs for digital innovation," said Aegis CEO Robert Lerwill, noting that the acquisition builds a "bigger foothold" for Isobar in those regions.