Diana Marszalek 09 Jan 2018 // 2:24AM GMT
LONDON — In a bid to expand its global tourism practice in Europe, Finn Partners has inked a deal to buy Brighter Group, the London PR and marketing firm that specializes in the sector.
The acquisition will yield a new firm called The Brighter Group, a Finn Partners Company, which will be led by current Brighter execs. Founder and CEO Debbie Flynn (pictured) will serve as managing partner; Steve Dunn, Brighter Group’s chairman, will be senior partner, strategy; and Fiona Jeffery, a non-executive director board member, will act as Finn Partners’ global tourism advisor.
Flynn will report to Finn Partners managing partner Chantal Bowman-Boyles, who leads EMEA from London, and New York-based managing partner Gail Moaney, who heads the agency’s tourism practice.
The new Brighter Group is launching with a 22-person staff, offering clients PR, marketing and representation. Existing clients include the countries Belize, Dubai and Jordan, Intrepid Travel, Air Europa and South African Tourism. Flynn will report to Chantal Bowman-Boyles, managing partner, who leads EMEA from London and Gail Moaney, managing partner, tourism practice leader, Finn Partners, New York.
“Our tourism group is one of our core US practice areas and we have been eager to add a London travel team so that we can offer support in EMEA to our existing client base. Bringing the Brighter Group on board is the perfect solution for us,” said Peter Finn, Finn Partners founding partner (pictured).
The move is the second Finn Partners acquisition in less than four months that expands is presence in Europe. In September, the agency announced its purchase of ABI, a New York-based B2B firm with offices in London and Frankfurt.