BCM Group snaps up Neural Digital in search tech push

BCM Group has acquired specialist SEO and generative engine optimisation agency Neural Digital, strengthening its SearchWorks platform and search capabilities.

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The deal will integrate Neural Digital’s search technology and market-specific modelling into SearchWorks. It will also bring the agency’s founder into a senior role across the BCM Group.

Neural Digital founder joins SearchWorks

Chris Pahor, founder of Neural Digital, will join SearchWorks as head of search and performance. He will also take on a broader strategic role across BCM Media.

Pahor and his team had already been working with SearchWorks through a business partnership. BCM Group said the collaboration had delivered early results for clients.

“Right from day one we have hit the ground running with BCM Group,” Pahor said. “I have known Lukas and Phil for some time, and I couldn’t be happier to be fully integrating the Neural business into SearchWorks and BCM Group.”

Neural Digital provides SEO and GEO services tailored to individual markets and categories. Its client roster includes Navair, Bell Partners and Visit The Murray.

Building BCM Group’s search offering

SearchWorks launched in January 2026 as BCM Group’s proprietary brand visibility platform. It uses adaptive SEO and GEO models to track and improve how brands appear across traditional and generative search environments.

Lukas Temple, managing director of BCM Media and Creative and SearchWorks, said the acquisition formalised an existing relationship between the businesses.

“The partnership we have developed with Neural has already proven incredibly powerful for our clients,” Temple said. “This move takes our proprietary platform to the next level and strengthens our ability to deliver adaptive, total search solutions.”

Phil McDonald, chief executive officer of BCM Group, said Pahor’s appointment would add specialist expertise to the agency group.

“Chris is one of the smartest SEO and GEO strategic minds in Australia,” McDonald said. “Acquiring Neural and having him join us to work with Lukas, our team, and our clients marks an exciting new chapter for the BCM Group.”

The acquisition forms part of BCM Group’s investment in marketing technology and performance media. The independent agency group operates across creative, media, digital, strategy, research and public relations through BCM Media and Creative, Veracity and IVY.