Two advertising and public relations firms to create largest agency in Roanoke Valley
Neathawk Dubuque & Packett (ND&P), a full-service advertising, marketing and public relations agency, has announced plans to acquire The Becher Agency (tba) in a move that creates the largest agency in the Roanoke Valley.
“We are delighted to grow our locally managed office with the acquisition of a well-respected and well-connected agency with particularly strong capabilities and award-winning results in public relations,” said Todd Foutz, executive vice president of ND&P. “Our combined staffs, comprising some of the most talented and recognized advertising professionals in the region, will provide clients with unprecedented expertise in creative services, online interaction, social media, public relations and other communications that help businesses and organizations succeed.”
Thomas Becher, owner and president of The Becher Agency, will join ND&P as senior vice president, leading the combined company’s public relations and crisis communications practices.
“We look forward to bringing our expertise to a larger team of professional communicators to better serve a variety of organizations,” Becher said. “Both firms share a great deal of respect for each other, and we have previously worked together to provide outstanding service to mutual clients. We look forward to continuing to provide local, strategy-based creative solutions to a variety of clients in our region and beyond.”
The Becher Agency has offices at Warehouse Row, 119 Norfolk Ave., in downtown Roanoke and the Corporate Research Center in Blacksburg. Upon the transaction, Becher Agency employees will move into ND&P’s office at 410 S. Jefferson St. The combined company will retain the Blacksburg office to serve clients in the New River Valley.
Once the acquisition closes, ND&P will have 54 employees in Roanoke, Richmond, Chattanooga, Tenn., Charlotte and Durham, N.C., and Tampa, Fla. The combined entity will total 17 full-time positions in Roanoke office.
“This deal has many benefits for our clients, including additional creative talent and public relations services that include media relations, corporate communications, speech writing, crisis communications, business continuity, media training, event planning and more,” added Roger Neathawk, chairman and CEO. “It further demonstrates our agencies’ commitment to the Roanoke region, my hometown, where our associates live, work, play and give back to the community through service to such organizations as the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Roanoke, the SPCA and Feeding America Southwest Virginia.”
The deal combines the legacies of two renowned names in the Roanoke advertising market – Howard Packett and John Lambert. ND&P acquired The Packett Group in 2004. Becher purchased the assets of Lambert’s agency in 2006.
The transaction is scheduled to be effective Sept. 1. Terms of the deal are not being disclosed.
