Auspicious acquires leading digital learning tech company, DBLX, and appoints Rob Ashcroft as Chief Learning Officer
Auspicious Holdings has announced the acquisition of DBLX, the digital custom content and platform business, as the company targets growth in the Learning & HR market.
DBLX, which is led by CEO and Co-Founder Nicky Hoyland, partners with global enterprises to transform their people experiences through three core offerings: immersive digital content, custom platform development, and strategic consulting. They specialise in creating innovative solutions for learning, culture change, leadership development, and internal communications that drive meaningful engagement and lasting impact.
DBLX works with HR and Learning & Development teams inside major organisations to improve L&D and internal communications, by designing bespoke solutions using creative technology to engage staff.
The company counts global brands like Santander, St James’s Place, Subsea 7 and Centrica as clients and has won a host of industry awards.
Nicky joins Auspicious in a group role as Global Chief Innovation Officer while retaining responsibility for the growth of DBLX.
At the same time, former Learning Professional of the Year, Rob Ashcroft, has joined Auspicious as Chief Learning Officer, where he will help DBLX build out its learning consultancy, transformation and employee experience offer.
Rob recently left Santander UK where he spent more than 17 years in Learning Management roles, most recently as Head of Capability, covering Learning & Resourcing.
Rachel adds: “Learning is a huge focus for large companies as they invest in employee skills and capabilities that directly impact the bottom line.” “It’s a major growth market for Auspicious both in the UK and in the US. Rob and Nicky are industry titans who have worked with and for major brands on complex briefs; I can’t think of two better people to lead our charge.”
Nicky said: “Joining Auspicious is a fantastic step for DBLX. Our strength lies in combining custom creative content and technology to deliver engaging experiences that truly resonate with employees. By bringing this together with Auspicious’ global creative capabilities and Rob’s deep learning expertise, we’re uniquely positioned to help organisations transform how they develop and engage their people.”
Rob commented: “Joining Auspicious Group as Chief Learning Officer at this pivotal moment is incredibly exciting! By bringing together DBLX’s digital expertise with Auspicious’ creative excellence, we’re uniquely positioned to support organisations and transform people experiences.”
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About Auspicious Group
The Auspicious Group is an award-winning creative services group consisting of four leading creative
agencies with offices in London, New York and Portland, Oregon.
The group currently consists of:
- Auspicious Global, a corporate film and communications agency.
- Blue Chalk Media, a US-based industry-leading non-fiction production company.
- Studio Yes, a creative advertising and video production studio.
- DBLX, a digital transformation agency delivering exceptional people experiences and impactful change.
Auspicious is run by three of the UK’s most experienced creative services entrepreneurs. Rachel Pendered and Mark Killick built the Media Zoo group into a Sunday Times Fast Track 100 company and PR Week’s fastest-growing agency, and Barnaby Cook built Casual Films from an office in London into a hugely successful global business with offices in London, the US and Australia.
The Group is proud to be majority female-owned and has received accreditation certifying this from WEConnect, the international network that educates and informs around the supply chain to ensure good practice and diversity and inclusion in sourcing and procurement.