Newcastle-based PR and communications agency Karol Marketing has announced it has acquired Fusion PR Creative.
As part of a ‘strategic’ move to bolster the agency’s expertise, both companies will continue to operate under their respective brands and strengthen their market specialisms, skills and expertise as one Group.
Former Fusion PR Creative Managing Director John McCabe, who was recently appointed chief executive at the North East England Chamber of Commerce, will now step down from his role at Fusion.
Other members of the Fusion team will remain in key roles within the newly formed Group.
Karol Marketing, founded in 1992 by Stefan Lepkowski, advised it also plans to make ‘new investments’ in staff and ‘increased resources’.
Group Managing Director, Stefan Lepkowski, said, “This is a strategic and purposeful move designed to reinforce and strengthen our long-standing commitment to the region, providing the very highest level of strategic communications, public affairs, marketing and PR expertise to the North East’s business community.
“Fusion is the absolute perfect fit for Karol, bringing a highly specialist and exemplar skills set to our offering for clients, especially B2B companies and public sector organisations, who may be operating on a very local level or UK-wide and beyond.”
John McCabe added: “I’m very pleased to have concluded the sale of Fusion to Karol Marketing. It’s almost nine years to the day since I launched Fusion and in that time the business has grown way beyond my initial expectations.
“We’ve created good jobs for good, talented people, won awards for our work, and had the pleasure of working with fantastic clients. It’s good to know I’m leaving the business in very strong shape, and in very good hands, with a bright, exciting future ahead.”
Karol Marketing was advised by Stephen Slater of RMT accountants with Fusion PR Creative being advised by Stephen Willis of Robson Laidler.
