Blue Star parent Ive Group has diversified further with the acquisition of a telemarketing business, charity fundraiser Pareto, a move which will also expand its direct mail operation. The move comes less than a week after Ive announced it was returning to the market seeking its IPO, which was thwarted in May due to market volatility. With 150 staff Pareto is Australia’s biggest specialist non-profit fundraiser. It uses direct mail campaigns and telemarketing to source donations and ongoing support for a range of charity clients. The company will not be absorbed into any of the three Ive business divisions, but will operate as a stand-alone entity. Paul Roberts CEO will continue to run Pareto Fundraising and Bruce Cotton CEO Pareto Phone will continue to run Pareto Phone. The business will continue to operate from its Sydney and Brisbane offices.

Ive buys: Paul Roberts CEO Pareto Fundraising, Bruce Cotton CEO Pareto Phone, Sean Triner, chief evangelist, Pareto Fundraising

Ive executive chairman Geoff Selig says Pareto has a reputation across the not-for-profit sector for delivering consistent results for its clients since its founding in 2002, using highly personalised and targeted fundraising campaigns. Selig says, “I feel the combination of our two businesses will be powerful as we build further on Pareto’s capabilities to support and grow charities across Australia and New Zealand.” Pareto co-founder Sean Triner says joining with Ive is the next logical step for the business and will help its clients grow. He says, “Our recent ground-breaking digital work along with great direct mail and telemarketing is helping keep fundraising alive and relevant in a constantly changing environment,” he says.

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