LONDON — Text 100 is merging with Next 15 sibling agency Lexis, with the UK firm set to see its brand phased out by September.

Founded in 1992, Lexis rose to become one of London's top consumer PR firms before selling to Next 15 in 2005. However, the agency has struggled to replicate that stellar performance in recent years.

Lexis MD Dominic Shales will depart the agency, five years after he came aboard when his firm Paratus Communications acquired by Next 15.

Tara O’Donnell, MD of Text100 UK, will assume overall responsibility for the combined agency, which will number more than 100 people. Ruth Kieran, former deputy MD of Lexis, becomes deputy MD to Tara O’Donnell. 

New roles within Text100 UK include: Toby Conlon, head of corporate reputation; Bianca Lee-Chang, head of consumer; and, Virginie Luce, head of digital marketing. 

"Adding Lexis’ stellar consumer brand experience further strengthens Text100 as a global marketing communications agency, building on the previous acquisitions of Incredibull and Republic Publishing which were successfully merged into Text100 last year," said Text100 global CEO Aedhmar Hynes.