Encore Acquires Global Brand Experience Agency FIRST
Photo Credit: Unsplash / ASIA CULTURECENTER
Skift Take
Encore’s second acquisition in less than two weeks expands its international reach, but this time focuses on event planning services. It sees FIRST’s embedded corporate campus model as complementary to its own strong hotel partnerships.
Encore, the Blackstone-backed event production and audiovisual giant, has acquired FIRST, a brand experience company headquartered in New York, with offices in Los Angeles, London, Dublin and Singapore.
FIRST has grown over its 30-year history to more than 800 employees working across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. The agency specializes in an embedded corporate campus model — also known as office implants — which it has grown over the last 15 years. It currently has around 75% staff working directly at client corporate offices globally. The company also offers regular project-based event planning, supporting 15,000 events annually.
“The FIRST embedded corporate campus team model and strong customer relationships across technology, financial and professional services are a complement to Encore’s global event production capabilities,” said Ben Erwin, president and CEO of Encore.
Encore currently operates in 21 countries and partners with more than 2,000 hotels and venues worldwide, producing over 400,000 events annually.
By combining Encore’s global footprint with FIRST’s on-campus delivery model, the companies said they will expand service capabilities across North America, EMEA, and APAC.
“We’re thrilled to join Encore and bring our embedded solutions model and full-service agency expertise to an even broader customer base,” said Maureen Ryan Fable, CEO of FIRST. “Our team’s ability to integrate seamlessly into a customer’s culture ensures every event feels authentic to each organization’s brand.”
FIRST works with clients across financial services, technology, media, aerospace, healthcare and professional services.
This acquisition follows Encore’s November purchase of Eclipse, a UK-based event production company, as it continues expanding its capabilities in Europe.
