Buffalo, NY-based integrated communications shop The Martin Group has acquired Albany-based public affairs firm Gramercy Communications.
Financial terms of the acquisition, which officially became effective February 1, weren’t publicly disclosed.
Founded in 2005, Gramercy is one of New York State’s leading public affairs firms. Clients include the New York State Restaurant Association, the Capital District Transportation Authority, Saratoga County, the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, the United New York Ambulance Network, the United Way of the Capital Region and Vireo Health.
 Tod Martin, Chairman & CEO of The Martin Group. |
Gramercy’s name and branding will be retired in light of the acquisition, and The Martin Group will now assume Gramercy’s existing client roster. Gramercy founder and CEO Tom Nardacci now joins TMG as a senior advisor. Gramercy partner Andrew Mangini will lead TMG’s public affairs practice and Gramercy senior account manager Brittany Kenny will serve as TMG’s new public affairs manager.
The Martin Group has additionally hired Lizzy Tripoli, who formerly oversaw corporate partnerships at minor-league baseball team Tri-City Valleycats, to serve as an account coordinator and support the new Albany team.
TMG said the deal expands the agency’s presence in NY's Capital Region while enhancing its specialty service offerings.
“Part of our ongoing agency growth plan has been to identify and partner with or acquire like-minded agencies and firms that operate within our core geographic markets,” Matt Davison, TMG chief business officer, told O’Dwyer’s. “We have a steady book of public affairs business at the agency, and felt like Gramercy's focus and expertise in this area could really take our practice to the next level. Beyond that, we think our reach across New York State—from Buffalo to the Finger Lakes to the North Country and down to Albany and New York City—gives us a distinct coverage advantage for our current and future public affairs clients.”
Buffalo-based Martin Group, which was founded in 2001 by Travers Collins alum Tod Martin, maintains additional offices in Albany, Rochester and New York City. Clients include Under Armour, Wegmans, Puma, ASICS, M&T Bank, Prescription for Progress, Mohawk Valley Health System, FuzeHub, Grow-NY, Independent Health, Western Governors University and Pegula Sports & Entertainment.
Last year, The Martin Group received a strategic equity investment from news giant Hearst Newspapers.
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