Data-Driven Comms Agencies Merge

In the US, comms agencies Kivit and Subject Matter have joined forced to create a new national agency that combines strategic communications, analytics and insights, government relations, digital strategy, creative content and advertising services. Terms have not been disclosed.

Kivvit provides data-driven insights that drive large-scale digital ad campaigns and communications strategies for clients in finance, higher education, energy and healthcare. Its media impact and intelligence services include competitive benchmarking, audience analysis, social media listening, polling and focus groups. Subject Matter has a Washington-based bipartisan government relations team, offering creative advocacy capabilities that support clients across public health, finance, education, tech, comms and transportation.

The combined firm, Matter+Kivvit, has more than 200 people based in offices in Washington, New York, Chicago, New Jersey, and an emerging presence in Miami. Matter+Kivvit will operate under Coral Tree Partners, a private equity firm that acquired an ownership position in Subject Matter last year. The leadership of both firms will remain to head the combined business, including Subject Matter Managing Partners Steve Elmendorf, Paul Frick, Jimmy Ryan and Dan Sallick; Kivvit CEO Eric Sedler; Subject Matter CEO Nicole Cornish; and Molly Scherrman, who will be the new agency's Chief Operating Officer, continuing the role she played at Kivvit. The new business will operate under the two firms' current branding in the short term, with expanded leadership roles and rebranding anticipated later this year.

Sedler says the deal allows Kivvit to tap into an expanded level of policy and creative expertise. Cornish adds: 'The talent pool in these two firms is truly amazing. Combining this breadth and level of experience will allow us to offer clients the scale and expertise of a large firm, but with the personal touch of a boutique agency'.

Web sites: www.kivvit.com and www.teamsubjectmatter.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.