Chicago-based business-to-business marketing communications agency Slack Barshinger has acquired brand consultancy and ad agency Coleman Partners.
“Coleman brings additional branding capabilities and some terrific talent and clients,” said Gary Slack, chairman and CEO of Slack Barshinger. “[They also bring us] one new sector — healthcare — and it strengthens us in the financial services and industrial products categories.”
Coleman Partners’ six employees now work in the Slack Barshinger headquarters, and the company will operate under the Slack Barshinger brand. Slack Barshinger now has 55 total employees.
Slack said now was a good time for the acquisition.
“Within the current economic climate, when it’s a little harder to grow organically, another option for growth is to find what I consider gems of agencies who are interested in joining forces with larger agencies to help survive and prosper,” Slack said.
Kevin Coleman, founder of Coleman Partners, will continue with the company as senior counselor, and Karen Courtright, former VP at Coleman Partners, will be a client team leader and director of research. There are no other staff changes planned.
