The 2023 PR Pitches and M&A Year in Review

PRmoment Podcast

Welcome to our 2023 Year in Review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch, where we will discuss the biggest, most seismic pitch wins and mergers and acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in 2023.
Andrew is the lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.

He is the founder of Andrew Bloch & Associates, where he advises firms in the marketing services sector. His portfolio includes non-executive director, board advisory, consultancy and project roles for a range of businesses and agencies.
Andrew co-founded PR agency, Frank, where he is still a shareholder.

Before we start, The PRmoment Awards 2024 are now - OPEN! The final entry deadline is on Friday, 26th January.
There are some exciting changes this year; we’ve tweaked the categories, refined the entry form and launched a regional champions scheme with no additional entry fee to reach the work across the UK.
Do check out the PRmoment Awards microsite.
Also, thanks so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.
Finally, thanks to PRmoment’s data and insight partners, Meltwater, for supporting the show.
2 mins Andrew talks about December’s M&A activity:
PHA acquired Leeds-based creative comms consultancy MCG.
Premier acquired Edinburgh-based The Corner Shop PR. It will be renamed Premier Scotland.
Brands2Life was acquired by the Scandinavian holding company Paritee. Brands2Life has a fee income of £21 million and circa 180 full-time employees.
“It’s not easy for an agency to remain at the top of their game for so many years, and that is what Brands2Life has done.”
6.30 mins December pitch wins:

8 mins Our Review of Pitch PR Wins and M&A Review for 2023
January 2023 Pitch Highlights
10 mins January’s PR M&A Highlights
“One of the biggest M&A deals in the sector. “
“Teneo will give Tulchan an international footprint.”
“I don’t think this will be the last acquisition we see from Teneo.”
12.30 mins February 2023 Pitch wins highlights
“They become part of a roster that included Cow and Edelman...the first in a stellar year for The Romans.”

“Kuoni is a big big win.”
13.30 mins February’s PR M&A highlights
“A landmark deal for Markettiers”
15 mins March’s pitch wins highlights
“A very significant win for MSL, who have one of the strongest social media units within the PR space.”
17 mins March’s 2023 M&A Highlights
20 mins April’s pitch wins highlights:

“Supermarket comms is about as tough as it gets.”

23 mins April’s 2023 M&A Highlights

“Goat is a very data-driven influencer influencer agency.”

“This will give Camarco global reach and deep expertise in corp advisory.”

25 mins May’s pitch win highlights:

27 mins May’s M&A Highlights

28 mins June’s pitch win highlights

29 mins June’s M&A Highlights

31 mins July’s pitch win highlights

33 mins July’s M&A Highlights:.

34 mins August’s PR Pitch Wins

35 mins August’s M&A Highlights

36 mins September’s PR Pitch Wins

37.30 mins September’s PR M&A Highlights<