A digital marketing agency founded by The Apprentice winner Mark Wright and Lord Sugar in 2015 has been acquired.
Climb Online has been snapped up by global digital agency group xDNA, which now has a headcount of 130 people globally.
The London firm becomes the first business to successfully exit from the BBC show. Australia-born Wright, who won season 10 of the show in 2014, will continue as a shareholder of the group.
“I am incredibly proud of the agency Climb Online has become, and the success we have achieved for our team, clients, and partners,” he said.
“Through integrating Climb Online into the xDNA Group, the agency will continue its impressive growth and leading digital strategies for some of the world’s greatest brands.
“I am incredibly excited about the future of Climb Online and will be staying on as both a non-executive director and shareholder.”
Lord Sugar commented on the major milestone: “Climb Online has experienced rapid growth since Mark and I founded the business, and I’m so proud of what has been achieved.
“I look forward to seeing the next phase of growth with great interest, as this is a great example to all budding entrepreneurs of what can be possible.”
The expanded xDNA Group will operate out of the UK, Asia, the Middle East and North America, with further expansion planned into Europe and Australia through both acquisitions and organic growth.
xDNA, formed by entrepreneurs Mark Chambers and Richard Mavers, is focused on complex design, development and software engineering projects. Chambers and Mavers will work alongside Michael Bush, Climb Online’s MD, to combine the group’s enhanced offering.
Chambers, the group’s executive chairman, said: “The combination of xDNA and Climb Online is extremely compelling – creating one of the largest full service digital and software agencies in the UK.
“We have some exciting expansion plans to continue to develop the group that will add true value to our clients across the globe. It is an exciting time for the team, and I’m looking forward to delivering further growth and success.”