Grand Rapids Marketing Firm Acquires Competitor
(GRAND RAPIDS, MI) – Lead Marketing Agency has acquired Wynott Advertising & Design.
The purchase came after looking at several potential deals, said Tom Sullivan, the Grand Rapids firm’s president and co-owner.
“Acquiring an established firm like Wynott Advertising & Design means that we’ve increased our expertise, resources and creative services very quickly,” Sullivan said in a statement.
Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed by the Grand Rapids firm located at 2311 E Beltline Ave SE.
Sullivan started Leads in 2008 with Matt Tiedgen, the firm’s co-owner and vice president.
Clients including Brann’s Steakhouse & Grille, Two Men & A Truck, Biggby Coffee, Grand Rapids Griffins, Consumers Energy, Northpointe Bank, Grand Valley State University and Busch’s Fresh Food Market.
This has been a busy year for the firm. It has hired a creative director, expanded its digital advertising services and added a financial and strategic growth manager.
The investment was made to shift Lead to a full-service marketing agency. The staff has grown to 11 employees.
“We now will lead the marketing strategy, create the message, place both digital and traditional media in a very targeted fashion and analyze the data all under one roof,” Tiedgen said.
Founded in Grand Rapids in 2004 by Scott Hagley, Wynott has provided traditional advertising services to clients including Silver Bullet Firearms, Fence Consultants, Grapids Heating & Cooling, Distinctive Catering, Design 1 Salon & Spa and the West Michigan Whitecaps.
Hagley will join Lead as an account manager.
Other recent hires include Eddie Bullinger as creative director. Bullinger was partner and creative director at Murdoch Marketing in Holland since 2006.
“Eddie brings major-market talent and experience to Grand Rapids,” said Sullivan. “We think companies will be thrilled with his ability to produce design that communicates the authentic message of each brand.”
The agency has brought on Dan Gardiner joins as senior graphic designer, and Jeannesa Martin as digital specialist.
Gardiner brings 20 years of professional experience to Lead’s creative department, while Martin is a recent Ferris State University marketing graduate with a specialty in social media marketing.
In the summer, the agency contracted with veteran advertising agency consultant Steve Koskela to serve as chief financial officer and strategic adviser. Koskela’s 27 years of experience includes acting as chief financial officer of North American Operations for TBWA Chiat Day in Los Angeles, and most recently as managing director of sjk advisory group, which he will continue to operate, while working with Lead.
