O'Malley Hansen Communications has acquired Chicago-based brand and social media communications agency Alpaytac Public Relations.

The acquisition, the financial terms of which were not publicly disclosed, closed in September.

O'Malley Hansen Communications

Alpaytac was founded in 2004 by Turkey native Huma Gruaz, who serves as president and CEO. The full-service agency, which holds additional offices in New York and the Los Angles metro area, lists Turkish Airlines, Abt Electronics and SharkNinja as clients.

Alpaytac’s brand will gradually transition to assume the O’Malley Hansen name in light of the deal. Chicago-headquartered OHC, which maintains additional offices in St. Louis and New York, adds Gruaz to its senior management ranks, where she'll wear the title of partner. She’ll be based out of the agency’s forthcoming Los Angeles-area office. In New York, OHC staff will move into Alpaytac’s prexisting offices.

Gruaz told O’Dwyer’s that she decided to enter into a merger/acquisition agreement after a dozen-year run to expand her agency’s capabilities and enhance its services. She said O’Malley Hansen’s team and “outstanding track record and expertise” would “immediately benefit our clients and will create new opportunities for them.”

Alpaytac Public Relations/Marketing Communications

“I looked for an agency that will complement Alpaytac’s culture while matching my passion and dedication to excellence that I carried in my profession throughout my career,” Gruaz told O’Dwyer’s. “O’Malley Hansen Communications is exactly what I want for my clients and for my team.”

O’Malley Hansen principal Todd Hansen told O’Dwyer’s that both agencies offer complimentary strengths, which ultimately broadens the scope of the combined agencies' client offerings, adding OHC’s corporate communications and media capabilities to Alpaytac’s digital merits. The deal would also strengthen OHC’s New York presence while giving the agency its first west coast outpost. Finally, Hansen referred to Gruaz as a “key part of the acquisition.”

“I think both Huma and I really saw exponential opportunities for getting bigger, and we’re really fortunate that our respective portfolios are so complimentary,” Hansen told O’Dwyer’s. “And the opportunity to be on the west cost and have full national coverage is very exciting, and we're also very excited to work with Huma.”

Full-service agency O’Malley Hansen, which was founded in 2006, last year accounted for more than $1.7 million in net fees. Clients include Charter Communications, HanesBrands, Monsanto Company, Pepsico, Sara Lee Corp. and Tyson Foods.