Canada-Based Comms Group Avenir Buys Thinks Insight

London-based opinion and market research firm Thinks Insight & Strategy has been acquired by Montreal, Canada-based holding and management company Avenir Global.

Thinks Insight was formed when research firms BritainThinks and its subsidiary WorldThinks were combined three years ago within a single brand, bringing together expertise in political, corporate, nfp and reputation research.

Avenir's 1,000 staff in 22 locations across Canada, the US, Europe and the Middle East make it a top 25 global comms company. The group is home to Canadian PR firm NATIONAL Public Relations, as well as insights and media strategy / execution agency Time & Space. In the US it owns comms agencies SHIFT and Padilla; and Thinks' new sister companies also include healthcare PR and comms company AXON, ad services firm Cherry, reputation specialist Hanover Communications and insight-based creative communications agency Madano.

Avenir says the acquisition of Thinks will bring 'outstanding strategic and analytical capability' to the group. Michael Evans, President and Managing Partner of Madano and Cherry states: 'Their ability to translate insight into clear, actionable strategy is exactly what clients need in an increasingly complex environment.'

Thinks CEO Ben Shimshon (pictured) said on LinkedIn: 'This is an exciting new chapter for Thinks Insight and Strategy. We're incredibly proud of what our team has built over the past sixteen years, rooted in fantastic insight, exceptional thinking and a deep commitment to our brilliant clients. Being part of AVENIR GLOBAL's network will bring new opportunities to grow our impact while staying true to what makes Thinks distinctive.'

Web sites: www.thinksinsight.com and www.avenir.global .