Kouchin Holdings, the company headed up by entrepreneur Emmet O’Neill has increased its stake in Lovin Media Group to 85% by acquiring the 33% shareholding that was held by the company’s founder Niall Harbinson.
Kouchin first invested in Lovin Media Group back in 2014 and the transaction follows the recent appointment of Jamie Crawford as the group’s new CEO. Crawford is an experienced media professional and is a former CEO of Spin 1038 and SPIN South West for nine years.
As part of the deal, Harbinson will leave the company to pursue other interests.
According to Jamie Crawford the company was exploring international opportunities as well as potential acquisitions. “My mandate from Kouchin is to professionalise, commercialise, innovate and grow the business. Niall did an incredible job as founder and created a business with great potential. Kouchin have been very clear that they want to move on beyond the founder stage of the business, realise the potential of what we have and grow something of scale and value over the next five to ten years.
The Group works with national and international advertisers including Diageo, Lidl, Renault, Supervalu, Centra and Ulster Bank. Lovin Media Group operates online publishing sites with operations in Ireland, Manchester, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and Malta.
Lovin Media Group was established in 2011 as a Dublin focussed site but has expanded in its national reach in Ireland and internationally in the years since. Sites within the Group now include LovinDublin.com, Lovin.ie, LovinManchester.com, LovinDubai.com, LovinSaudi.com LovinMalta.com. Key elements of the formulae are similar across the Group with content focusing on local culture, food, entertainment, lifestyle, travel, and fashion. Content is optimised for mobile and delivered through the websites, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
