Toronto’s MyThum acquired by OLSON

Toronto-based mobile marketing agency MyThum Interactive has been acquired by Minneapolis agency OLSON and will become OLSON Mobile. MyThum is a 30-person full-service mobile marketing agency that connects brands to communities through mobile devices.

MyThum’s co-founder Michael Carter will serve as the new entity’s president and will remain based in the agency’s Toronto office.

Together, the new OLSON mobile boasts a combined client list in Canada and the U.S. that includes existing OLSON clients such as Target, Capital One and Bauer Hockey, and MyThum clients like MolsonCoors, Live Nation, Ontario Lottery Group, Ford, Atlantic Lottery Corporation and Sony.

This is the first international acquisition for OLSON, and comes on the heels of the agency’s December 2010 acquisition of Dig Communications. The purchase is the latest move in OLSON’s vision to create the agency of the future—a holistic agency that provides a wide set of solutions to clients, yet offers deep vertical expertise for those looking to specialize.

“We searched for a world-class mobile partner, and found it in Toronto with MyThum, one of the leading mobile agencies in North America. We were impressed by the team, and by its innovative and hard-working client efforts,” said Kevin DiLorenzo, president and CEO, OLSON. “MyThum is a smart company, and a great cultural fit for OLSON. We are looking forward to having OLSON mobile on board to fortify our services and enhance mobile opportunities for our clients.”

MyThum also operates a successful Canadian gateway business that connects text messaging applications to Canadian wireless operator networks for various third-party clients. That business will retain the MyThum brand.