ZOO Digital Expands to N.A., Savitt Promoted to Chief Digital Officer

Connelly Partners, an independent global agency with 150 employees across Boston, Dublin and Vancouver, is strengthening its position as a global digital leader. ZOO Digital – a digitally-driven creative agency that CP acquired in 2022 in Dublin, Ireland – will be expanding into North America in Q4 – and will serve as CP’s Digital offering globally. Senior Partner, Scott Savitt will assume the role of Chief Digital Officer at CP and will lead the formal introduction of ZOO in North America. 

CP and ZOO have been working together for the past two years to solidify their collective digital offering within the agency, bringing clients enhanced digital expertise and cost efficiencies. Together, they have successfully landed new business, launched work and campaigns for clients including The V Foundation for Cancer Research, founded by ESPN and legendary coach Jim Valvano; heritage brand and American staple Gorton’s Seafood; The Public Health Institute to reduce the spread of COVID-19; science of reading-based tutoring Ignite Reading; and more.  

ZOO also brings its impressive roster of clients including global brands such as Burger King and Hansard Global, and key Irish brands including Electric Ireland, Tirlán’s MyMilkMan.ie, the National Lottery and The Abbey Theatre.

“Building from the success of CP and ZOO Digital’s partnership over the past two years, we’re focusing on growth in North America,” said Savitt. “The complexity of marketing in today’s world requires agencies to provide end-to-end solutions. That’s what the convergence of ZOO Digital and CP is about. We excel in data-driven digital marketing across all channels using sophisticated customer research and analytics to inform all our strategies.” 

Clients will benefit from a model that can scale up/down based on needs and 24 hours of coverage across time zones. They’ll have access to a team of digital specialists providing comprehensive solutions across Strategy, UX & UI, Digital Campaign Creative, SEO, PPC, Paid Media, Social Media, Data & Analytics. U.S. clients will also benefit from cost efficiencies with the agency’s digital center of excellence in Dublin, and quality control at its highest within the full-service agency. 

In his role as CDO, Savitt will oversee and drive the agency’s digital growth – including ZOO in North America –  fostering integration, and ensuring clients can leverage ZOO’s team of digital creatives, marketing strategists and creative technologists. He’ll also support synergies across departments and disciplines, advancing CP towards sustained growth.

ZOO Digital will maintain its name and work as an integrated part of the CP ecosystem. Its founders, Colin Hetherington (Managing Director), Chris Preston (Creative Director), and Martin Byrne (Technical Director), will provide clients with digital strategic direction and drive integration while leading the team in Dublin. 

All executives will report to Steve Connelly

Colin Hetherington, Managing Director, ZOO Digital added: “With a decade and a half of experience shaping the digital marketing landscape in Ireland, we’re excited to introduce ZOO to North America. Our Human Centered approach to digital has set us apart and it is now available to clients in this dynamic market. We’re already gaining momentum with a number of new contract wins and we’re looking forward to making a significant impact on the digital landscape in North America.”

As CP enters its 25th year in business, it’s positioned as an independent global agency with 150 employees across three locations in Boston, Dublin & Vancouver. Clients get a global perspective, local market expertise, vertical depth and category know-how. And they get it from teams and resources across the network, no matter what “door” they come in.