Management team take over digital and crisis comms agency

Congratulations to the team at Helpful Digital on their successful MBO. M&A Advisory advised the team.

Social media crisis training platform Social Simulator and digital consultancy Helpful Digital have been taken over in a management buy-out.

Directors Tim Lloyd and Chris Malpass confirmed a deal with founder Steph Gray this week.

The Social Simulator platform is used by some of the world’s largest energy and aviation brands, as well as governments all over the world, to help test their response to safety, security and reputation incidents. Teams working in operations and communications are immersed in a secure, realistic world of social media and news reports, phone calls and email during exercises that can last from 3 hours up to 3 days.

Social Simulator is also the platform of choice for 10 of the world’s leading PR and consultancy firms.

Helpful Digital delivers digital strategy reviews and skills training for the same clients, challenging them to in-source critical competencies to combat the challenges of disinformation and audience engagement on social media.

Helpful Digital has offices in London and New York. The team plans to expand in to other cities in the next 12 months.

Tim Lloyd said:

We’re excited about the next stage in Helpful’s growth. We have large scale training programmes underway with global energy and tech firms and an exciting new version of Social Simulator on our roadmap.

The management buy-out is a win-win: our founder is earning the rewards for creating a great business, and our new management team are capitalising on a resurgent market for our services.

Steph Gray said:

I’m thrilled to be leaving Helpful in the hands of the people who have helped me build it. I know Tim and Chris have the exciting ideas and creative energy to keep growing Helpful.

Notes

ICCO announce M&A Advisory partner for PR mergers and acquisitions

ICCO has announced a new partner M&A Advisory, to support members as they go through merger and acquisition processes.  

M&A Advisory is a central London based mergers and acquisition specialist advising on company sale and acquisition in the global PR, marketing communications and Martech sectors. With a 25-year heritage, the practice is built upon excellent market knowledge, sound business experience and the highest possible deal completion rates. The team are all experienced professionals and business practitioners who deliver a high quality, cost-effective advisory and execution service.  There is a focus on maximising value by ensuring a strong cultural fit and an outstanding business proposition.

M&A Advisory can advise on the right timing, find the optimum partner, consider all cultural and business issues, and recommend the best path to value.  Whether there is a need to establish how much a business is worth, how much value can be added before a sale, what buyers are looking for, or deal with unsolicited approaches, M&A Advisory can help.

David Blois, Managing Partner, M&A Advisory:

“This is an exciting time for the global communications and PR industry, with mergers and acquisitions increasing rapidly already in 2021. We are delighted to support ICCO members”.

Rob Morbin. Deputy Chief Executive, ICCO said:

“ICCO is very pleased to add M&A Advisory to our partner roster, supporting members with this crucial service. Our industry is dynamic, the evolution of agencies and networks is constant, and so I am pleased M&A are on board and able to offer guidance and direction to members as they undertake important decisions about the future of their business.”

For more , please contact David Blois using davidb@mandaadvisory.com