Q&A with John Preston: How selling to Publicis will change independent Match Media

Australia’s media agency landscape was transformed yesterday with independent Match Media selling to multinational Publicis Groupe. Match founder John Preston talked to Nic Christensen about the deal, why he sold, what it means for independent media agencies and the wider agency landscape. 

Let’s start with why you’re selling? 

You know what, I’ll tip my hat to [Mumbrella editor] Alex Hayes who noted back in January how the independents are struggling and grappling with the need to equip themselves with technology, data, research and platforms such as programmatic.

It is absolutely true that Match could survive over the period of the next 18 months quite comfortably, but can it survive as a stand alone beyond that? I very much doubt it.