MediaSense acquires creative advisory R3
Global media advisor MediaSense has acquired R3. The move expands MediaSense’s global footprint in North America and Asia.
Founded in 2009 by Andy Pearch and Graham Brown, MediaSense is an independent global media consultancy. It works with clients to evaluate internal and external agency media operating models, and media supply chains – to build high performance media operating models.
In a period of major changes for the media industry, with rising costs, supply chain issues and the advent of AI all impacting business as usual, demand has surged for MediaSense’s services. As a result, despite the pandemic years, the company has seen its staff numbers rise consistently in recent years – growing from 35 in 2019 to around 80 in 2021. At that point, the firm attracted investment from Apiary Capital, which has since fuelled the firm’s next stage of growth.
Earlier in 2024, this saw MediaSense acquire PwC UK’s marketing and media owner team, taking the firm’s headcount to more than 100 professionals. Now, MediaSense has followed this up with the purchase of R3: a media and creative advisory firm with offices spanning North America and Asia.
Graham Brown, CEO at MediaSense, commented, "Our growth ambitions are informed by listening to our clients' current and future needs, and increasingly they require joined-up advice across disciplines and territories… In R3 we have found a partner who is completely aligned with the principles of engineering value for clients and supporting them in navigating change. We are delighted and proud to welcome R3 and its talented teams to MediaSense".
The move will further enable MediaSense to help its clients deliver the best returns across their marketing and media investments, globally. At the same time, the news sees the firm expand beyond media operations into marketing operations, adding content and creative capabilities and significantly growing MediaSense’s presence outside of Europe.
Established in 2002, R3 is focused on improving the effectiveness and efficiency of marketers and their agencies. As well as its London office, it has hubs in New York, China and Singapore. While both firms will continue to operate under separate branding, MediaSense’s employee numbers will increase by 30% to over 230, with R3’s co-founders, Greg Paull and Shufen Goh joining the expanded business’s executive leadership team.
Paull commented, “The coming together of MediaSense and R3 creates a truly independent global advisory business. As one team, we have the ability to support brands with cross-discipline experience and intelligence as they transform their marketing organisations from the inside, and through agency, data and tech partnerships. We are excited to be joining MediaSense on this innovative growth journey and offering our combined clients a more expansive and integrated service, globally.”
Goh added, “In MediaSense we have found the ideal partner with whom to grow, given our shared values and complimentary service offerings, across both capabilities and geographies. We are completely aligned on clients’ requirements for best-in-class advice and more integrated thinking in relation to their marketing organisations, external partners and governance over their marketing investments.”
