If there’s one consistent theme in our industry it’s consolidation, and October 2018 was no different. Brandwatch and Crimson Hexagon merge, Hootsuite and Kantar are up for sale, and pressrelations picked up Media Tracking. If that wasn’t enough, AMEC’s Measurement Month is about to start.
Brandwatch & Crimson Hexagon to Merge
Brandwatch and Crimson Hexagon have announced plans to merge. The merger is expected to complete in Q4 and will create a social intelligence business with around $100 million in recurring annual revenue. Giles Palmer, CEO and founder of Brandwatch, will lead the merged entity, with executives from both businesses taking on as yet defined roles. Palmer acknowledged that both companies “solved the same problem”, and that marketers will get the best of both businesses. It’s thought the newly merged company will retain the Brandwatch name. Crimson Hexagon customers will be able to continue their accounts for up to three years, so it seems the Crimson Hex brand may not be going anywhere soon.
Reuters: Hootsuite is reportedly up for sale
Staying in the social media analytics space, Reuters is reporting that Hootsuite is exploring a sale that provides a valuation of at least $USD750 million. Unnamed sources have stated that the company is generating annual revenues of $150 million. Bloomberg confirmed that Hootsuite has hired Goldman Sachs to explore the sale. According to sources, the company may still opt to go public. Neither Hootsuite nor Goldman Sachs have commented on the story.
pressrelations acquires Media Tracking, expands to US
pressrelations the German media intelligence provider has completed the acquisition Media Tracking, a US media monitoring company. Media Tracking will be renamed pressrelations and the German company’s media portal, Newsradar X, will be introduced to the US market. The move marks the first foray into the US market for pressrelations. Newsradar X is used by pressrelations and a number of system partners including PR News in Russia and Ireland’s Truehawk Media.
Cision to lay off over 100 employees in the UK
Cision is reportedly intending to lay off more than 100 employees in the UK. The firm is planning to move the bulk of its media monitoring services to it’s Prime Research division in India. Cision picked up its current UK media monitoring business when it purchased Gorkana in 2014. According to reports, Cision’s UK media monitoring headcount will fall from 150 employees to 21. Roles at risk of redundancy include production managers, section editors, new media readers and data entry positions.
WPP to sell Kantar
WPP is looking to sell a majority stake in Kantar Group, its market-research unit. Kantar is valued at between $USD3.44 billion and $USD4.59 billion. WPP is seeking a strategic or financial partner in Kantar that can take a majority stake, according to a person familiar with the matter. In separate news, Kantar Media UK has announced that it will restructure its UK & Ireland leadership. Richard Poustie is stepping down as Kantar Media’s CEO UK & Ireland on 1st November. Kantar Media’s Global CEO, Andy Brown, will take on the role while a successor is found.
UK competition watchdog clears Nielsen Ebiquity merger
The UK’s Competition and Market Authority has provisionally found that the proposed merger between Nielsen and Ebiquity does not raise competition concerns. The news prompted an increased interest in Ebiquity stock. The CMA will give its final verdict on the disposal by December 9.
CARMA expands to Asia, appoints new leadership for Europe & Americas
CARMA has announced a new leadership team for Europe and the Americas. AMEC chairman Richard Bagnall joins as CEO, and will also hold the newly-created role of global co-managing partner. Paul Hender is the new COO for the regions, and Jason Weekes joins as commercial director. In other leadership changes, Chip Griffin, CARMA’s global COO, stepped away from the business in October to launch Agency Leadership Advisors, a consultancy for PR and marketing agency leaders. Meanwhile, CARMA Asia has been launched. Founded by partners from CARMA International and Media Track, CARMA Asia will be based in Singapore and lead by Andrew Nicholls.
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