Maja Pawinska Sims 16 Jul 2024 // 2:00PM GMT
LONDON — MHP Group has made its second acquisition this year, buying UK-based technology communications and branding consultancy Tuva Partners.
The 10-strong Tuva team will join MHP Group to form MHP Technology, a new specialist team that will deliver integrated work drawing on MHP Group’s wider creative, digital, reputation, capital markets and public affairs capabilities.
Tuva was co-founded in 2018 by managing partners Julian Tanner and James Kennedy, who met at Axicom, the global tech agency founded by Tanner. It works across the cleantech, fintech, telecoms and enterprise IT sectors, with clients including frontier markets digital operator Veon, card issuing platform Marqeta and energy storage firm ESS.
As part of the deal, Tanner (pictured, centre) will become executive chairman of MHP Technology, while Kennedy (right) will become head of MHP Technology, joining the MHP Group leadership team. MHP Technology will be the group’s third sector specialist team, alongside MHP Financial Services and MHP Health. MHP Group also includes consumer earned creative agency Mischief and polarisation consultancy Accord.
The acquisition – the terms of which have not been revealed – is part of MHP Group’s accelerated growth strategy since it was bought by Next15 in 2022, with further M&As thought to be in the pipeline. The Tuva deal follows MHP Group’s acquisition of 30-person creative agency La Plage in March, and brings the size of the combined team to 230 communications specialists.
MHP Group CEO Alex Bigg (pictured, left), said: “The Tuva team have built an enviable reputation as expert advisors to companies that are redesigning the global economy. From day one, MHP Technology will have leading positions in fast-growth areas, including cleantech, AI and quantum computing. Most importantly, we can now offer clients across MHP Group deep tech expertise.
“Julian has an incredible track record as an entrepreneur and James has proven himself a highly effective business leader, but both are also brilliant and passionate client advisors.”
Kennedy added: “Over the past six years, we’re proud to have partnered with some incredible technology brands – from established industry giants to the disruptive pioneers opening our eyes to new markets or reshaping our perspectives about existing ones. It’s been a great ride up to this point, and we now look forward to continuing our journey with MHP Group.”
The acquisition strengthens MHP Group’s roster of technology clients, which already includes Europe’s most valuable AI company, Wayve, cleantech investor Breakthrough Energy, and Oxford Instruments.