KPMG seeks more agency acquisitions after purchasing Acuity and appointing Paul Howes to head up new division
KPMG Australia has followed its fellow consulting firms into the marketing sector with the launch of a new specialist Customer, Brand & Marketing advisory venture, following the acquisition of North Sydney-based, Acuity Research and Insights.
Former trade union official Paul Howes will head up the new division and said the consultancy was already ‘eyeing off’ more companies and was in the process of securing ‘more top talent’.
Acuity, founded in 2010 by 20-year industry veteran Amanda Hicks, to “develop an agency that works in strong partnership with its clients, providing high-quality research, actionable evidence-based insights, and clear communications and service strategies” has been rebranded KPMG Acuity.
Shouldn’t the last player to the party bring some kind of neat new proposition, informed by those that have gone before? Research? Seriously? Didn’t EY buy Sweeney like a year ago? And would I pay KPMG rate card for market research? Plus, not led by a subject matter expert. Would this be accepted in any other part of KPMG? Furthermore, Howes, according to today’s ‘exclusive’ in the AFR, will continue his role as head of the wealth management practice. Better hope for punchy acquisitions, because this is less than compelling.