This is the third acquisition within 12 months for VMG which also owns creative agency Yakkazoo, bespoke and Out-of-Home media provider Revolution360, full-service media planning and buying agency Frontier Media, digital marketing agency Sillyfish, Captive Vision Outdoor (CVO) and VIM.

Aspire’s talent roster includes Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo, World #1 wheelchair tennis player, disability advocate and media personality Dylan Alcott; as well as Today’s entertainment host, Brooke Boney and radio, television, and podcast host, Linda Marigliano.

In joining VMG, Aspire Talent Group director Mark Jones said the media company ticked all the boxes. “Towards the end of 2020, we recognised that the needs of our clients had evolved. We were seeking to partner with a company that shared our vision and ambition, and upon meeting with VMG, it was clear that the group and its leadership team shared the same values that we did.”

The move is designed to accelerate Aspire’s growth via access to VMG’s specialist media, creative, and entertainment network.

“Traditional talent management has always been linear. Under the new VMG umbrella, Aspire is set to launch a new management model that considers our clients’ needs and their personal brand holistically. Being part of VMG will enable us to keep the end-to-end campaign in-house to supercharge our existing commercial network and active campaign exposure,” added Jones.

Jones and head of talent strategy Kristy Egglestone will continue to lead the Aspire business from VMG’s Pyrmont and South Yarra premises.

“Having had early career aspirations to become an NFL agent, this alliance excites me on a personal level as it marks the realisation of my earliest career dream,” said VMG CEO Michael Fishwick.

“This partnership adds an exciting new offering to our ecosystem and continues to position us as a leading full-suite independent media company,” he added.