• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, April 12, 2017

In a bid to bolster its digital user experience and design capabilities, Chicago ad agency HY Connect has acquired Merge Design + Interactive. Terms weren’t disclosed. 

MD+I was founded in 2004, has a staff of 20 and counts Great West Financial, Harley-Davidson, Dr Pepper Snapple Group and James Hardie among its clients. 

With the acquisition the staff at HYC, led by CEO Ron Bess expands to 150. The agency’s client roster includes Blue Cross Blue Shield, MB Financial Bank, Village Inn, Bakers Square, Roche and IU Health. 

The MD+I offering includes website creation, mobile apps, digital marketing campaigns and social programs. It also develops full-scale enterprise solutions. 

Merge’s executive team will take on new roles at the combined agency.  MD+I Founder/CEO Riley Sheehan is being named Chief Technology Officer, Lauren Sheehan takes the role of svp, creative and design director and Chris Tussing has been appointed CMO.

“Merge’s capabilities allow us to take HYC’s offerings to a whole new level—a skillset combining creativity and technology not found” in many other advertising agencies,” Bess said.