SAMY buys Get Engaged to expand US social presence

SAMY has acquired US social-first agency Get Engaged, expanding its position in the US market.

Get Engaged specialises in creators, talent, entertainment and culture, and employs more than 120 people across Atlanta, New York, Nashville and Los Angeles. The acquisition is part of SAMY's wider US expansion strategy.

SAMY operates in more than 55 markets and has more than 1,200 employees across 22 offices. Its majority shareholder, Bridgepoint, backed the transaction.

The deal strengthens SAMY's US presence as agencies compete for work tied to social media, influencer activity and creator-led campaigns. It also follows recent account wins for Unilever Foods and Barilla, and the appointment of Anabela Bonuccelli as US Managing Director.

Founded in 2016 by Alex Dermer, Cam Fordham and Ben Hiott, Get Engaged works across social media, influencer marketing, celebrity partnerships, content production and paid media. The business said it would retain its founders, leadership and existing client service approach following the takeover.

Juan Andrés Elhazaz Walsh, Chief Executive Officer of SAMY, said the deal formed part of the group's international growth plan.

"Joining forces with Get Engaged consolidates SAMY as a global leader in scalable social media and creator marketing brand operating models. Through data and insight-driven work, powered by tech and AI, we maximise strategy and creative output, allowing leading brands to resonate authentically with today's audiences."

"Having established a proven track record as a leading independent social agency across Europe and LATAM, scaling our U.S. footprint remains SAMY's primary growth objective and Get Engaged is the ideal partner to lead that expansion," said Walsh.

For Get Engaged, the transaction links a US agency rooted in entertainment and creator work with a larger international network. The company has built its business around connecting brands with celebrities, creators and broader cultural moments.

"We built Get Engaged to help brands connect with culture in ways that move their businesses forward. Joining SAMY gives us the global reach, technology and talent to take that vision further. What excites me most is our shared ambition for where this industry is going and the role we can play in shaping it. As I step into the Chief Executive Officer role at Get Engaged, I'm proud of what we've built and energised by what this partnership makes possible for our clients and our team," said Alex Dermer, Chief Executive Officer of Get Engaged.

Cam Fordham, Co-Founder of Get Engaged, also pointed to a broader shift in marketing towards longer-term creator and talent relationships.

"The next era of marketing will belong to brands that create moments people want to be part of. We see a huge opportunity to bring brands, creators and talent together in ways that go well beyond a single campaign. With SAMY, we can take bigger swings and turn bold ideas into experiences and partnerships that reach audiences around the world," said Fordham.

Bridgepoint, which became SAMY's majority shareholder in 2025, described the acquisition as another step in the agency group's development. It has supported the company's expansion into markets including France, Denmark, Romania, Canada and Turkey.

"This is another important milestone in SAMY's global growth journey, bringing together two highly complementary social-first businesses and significantly strengthening the group's presence in the US, " said Héctor Pérez, Deputy Managing Partner of Bridgepoint Europe.

"Together, SAMY and Get Engaged will create a leading social-first agency globally, with the scale, capabilities and local expertise to support clients across markets. We are pleased to continue supporting the team as they deliver on that ambition," Pérez added.