marketplaceNew York-based marketing holding company The CHR Group has inked its fourth PR acquisition in the past year, snapping up the software-driven PR marketplace of AirPR that connects early stage companies and small businesses with PR counsel.

AirPR, which launched the service as a "Match.com for startups and PR" in 2012, plans to focus on its burgeoning PR analytics platform, Analyst, moving forward. Venture capital vet Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer and Dreamworks and Zynga alum Rajagopal Sathyamurthi founded AirPR.

The deal by CHR follows PR acquisitions of Toronto's Idea Workshop in November, New York-based Trylon SMR (September), and New Jersey-based Raker Goldstein last March. It also snapped up content marketing shop Studio One in October.

Jonathan Zaback, chief strategy officer and partner at The CHR Group, told O'Dwyer's the AirPR deal is part of CHR building a "21st century marketing services holding company" that includes digital assets like the marketplace platform.

"PR Marketplace offers marketers the opportunity to engage seamlessly with quality PR professionals, improving the overall quality of the relationship between clients and PR practitioners, thus benefiting all involved," added Zaback, who is now president of CHR's new communications and brand marketing unit.