WE will leverage Codeword’s world-class talent in two of the fastest growing markets, New York and San Francisco
WE Communications, a Seattle-based public relations firm has lately acquired content marketing agency Codeword with the aim to grow its content, digital, social, and editorial capabilities.
Codeword, which has offices in New York, Salt Lake City, and San Francisco, brings expertise in content creation across digital, social, and editorial channels. Reportedly, it will be dubbed as “WE Codeword” and will continue to operate as a separate entity and maintain its own client portfolio. Codeword’s existing management— Mike Barash, Jeff Lind, Michael McKloskey, and Kyle Monson, will stay in place and work in partnership with a joint board of WE executives, headed by Kass Sells, President of WE North America.
No more acquisitions in the near future
The acquisition intends to continue WE’s global acceleration. In March 2018, WE expanded its presence in India after investing in integrated consultancy Avian Media and this deal is the independent agency’s second acquisition in less than a year. While WE remains open to continued opportunity, Melissa Waggener Zorkin, WE, CEO, said she doesn’t expect to make any more acquisitions in the foreseeable future. “It will probably be quiet for a while,” she quoted.
Kass Sells, WE, stated, “(Our business plan) also calls for adding additional capabilities in our fastest growing areas of influence, which include content, social and digital. In Codeword, we found a partner who can add world-class talent in two of our fastest growing markets, New York and San Francisco.”
The deal supports Codeword to enhance its offerings
Kyle Monson, Codeword partner, said, “We’ve been fans of WE for a long time and many of us have worked with WE in our past lives as journalists”. He added, “We’re so excited for this next phase. We work hard to stay at the forefront of our industry, and partnering with WE gives us a bigger platform to do the kind of work we love to do for our clients”.