Acceleris has acquired London and Dubai based agency Limelight in a move that it says will create one of the UK’s top 20 agencies outside of London.
The new 25-strong agency will have offices in Harrogate, London and Dubai with total billings of over £2m a year.
Acceleris was ranked 35th in Prolific North’s Top 50 PR Agencies 2017, turning over £1.1m with 15 staff, while Limelight employed 10 in London and three in Dubai, with total revenues of £1.5m.
Chief executive Susanna Simpson, who founded Limelight in 2002 and owned 100% of its shares, will become a shareholder of Acceleris and joins its board.
The new agency will see all the offices work as one business from day one. All three offices will continue to operate under their existing names.
Sector specialisms of the new agency will include transport and logistics, tech, business and professional services, maritime and travel.
Clients include independent energy providers Utilita, enterprise data and software provider Acxiom, domestic travel company Bourne Leisure and the UK’s leading daily car rental provider, Nexus.
Louise Vaughan, Acceleris’ managing director who will head the new agency, said: “This is a strategic acquisition that brings together two highly regarded agencies to create a single, exciting and highly credible new force in reputation management specialising in the B2B, public and third sectors.
“By leveraging our complementary strengths we will not only benefit from greater scale and geographical reach, but will also offer our clients much greater capabilities. These will be commercially focused services spanning corporate communications, digital and broadcast media, copy writing, content production and crisis and reputation management all of which can be delivered across the UK and Internationally.
She added that there was “fantastic synergy” between the two agencies.
Susanna Simpson, Limelight founder, added: “Acceleris acquiring Limelight will help my team and me to take a real step up in terms of what we can offer our clients and our employees. The additional resources and skills provided by Acceleris and its experienced board will enable us to significantly grow and achieve greater ambitions for our clients and ourselves.
“I am very proud of our past, but more excited for our future. To be working with such a talented combined team to take our new business to the next level is an opportunity for everyone and I am completely confident it will be a big success.”
Pictured (l to r): Limelight founder Susanna Simpson, Acceleris chairman Nigel Howes and managing director Louise Vaughan
