The move reflects a growing demand for mobile marketing and services, prompted by the dramatic global rise in smart-phone sales and consumer appetite for mobile internet and applications.

The acquisition is a natural continuation and strengthening of BD Network’s already pioneering work in mobile, which includes “Orange Wednesdays” and Fanta’s Free Credit campaign.

We Love Mobile brings with it a nine-strong team of mobile specialists and will continue to manage its own clients. This year projects have included work for John Lewis, BBC and EMI.

Cementing the agency’s long-standing relationship with We Love Mobile, the deal will further enhance BD Network’s ability to deliver fully integrated, creative solutions. The new company will offer mobile strategy, design and marketing services as a separate business unit under the BD Network umbrella, with We Love Mobile founders Simon Liss, Si Crowhurst and Ben Scott-Robinson remaining as Managing Director, Business Development Director and Creative Director respectively.

The team has already secured significant projects for existing BD Network customers, including Peugeot and Molson Coors – details of which will be announced later in the year.

Allan McLaughlin, Group Managing Director of BD Network commented:

“With growing demand for mobile marketing and services, there is significant potential in offering specialist mobile expertise across our client base and the acquisition is a natural continuation of our ground-breaking work in mobile.”

Simon Liss, Managing Director of We Love Mobile said:

“Coming at mobile from a creative and consumer-centric perspective has been what sets We Love Mobile apart, and this fits perfectly with BD Network’s own approach. They are independent, creative and insightful, and are the perfect partners for supporting our continued growth.”

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Carrying out a range of integrated activity, BD Network will lead  below the line work across Europe. They will work closely with the existing creative agency Lola, rolling out their concepts across a range of integrated communications channels.

The appointment comes following a two way competitive pitch earlier this year and is the first major retained brief that the agency has worked on for the FMCG giant.

Sam Smith, a Director at BD Network, said “We have some exciting ideas for the Cornetto brand and are proud that we’ve been selected to roll these out on a European scale.”

Annabelle Fraser, European Brand Development Manager Cornetto at Unilever, commented “BD Network impressed us with their ability to deliver Pan-European campaigns and to work directly with creative agencies. We were looking for an integrated approach which will extend our above the line work across a number of consumer touchpoints all over Europe.”