Chicago-based marketing and communications agency, The Motion Agency, announced Aug. 26 that it will acquire local brand strategy firm Vehr Communications for an undisclosed sum.
Founded in 2006, Motion is a woman-owned firm established by CEO Kimberly Eberl. The deal marks its second acquisition in Greater Cincinnati, following its 2023 purchase of Rick Miller Communications.
Local Fortune 500s make Cincinnati a branding hub
In a statement, Eberl said the acquisition in her hometown of Cincinnati will beef up her agency’s abilities in the region, which is known as a branding and marketing mecca thanks toFortune 500companies (and huge advertisers) like Procter & Gamble andKroger.
“(The deal) bolsters Motion's presence in one of the Midwest's most respected marketing and branding hubs,” Eberl said.
“We are doubling down on a core belief that the future of brand building is being shaped in cities like Chicago, Cincinnati and other Midwest communities.”
Motion has been named one of the country’s fastest-growing agencies by magazinesInc.and Adweek and a “Top PR Agency” by Forbes.
Firm grows to almost 90 in three locations
The deal expands Motion payroll to almost 90 between its Chicago headquarters and offices in Cincinnati and Nashville. Vehr will operate under Motion’s name. Motion also said it is searching for a Cincinnati-based creative director.
The deal will close on Oct. 1. Vehr founder Nick Vehrwill become an executive vice president at Motion, focusing on business development and growth.
“Cincinnati has always played an outsized role in shaping the region’s marketing and public relations industry,” Vehr said in a statement. “This partnership allows us to build on that legacy while providing access to expanded capabilities and resources.”
Vehr added his agency’s clients would keep working with their advisors, while benefiting from Motion’s “substantial additional talent, technology and capabilities.”
Motion Agency head has Cincinnati ties
Though Vehr is being taken over by a Chicago firm, its founder has local ties.
While she has spent much of her career in Chicago, Eberl attended Mount Notre Dame High School in Reading in suburban Cincinnati.
Besides founding his firm, Vehr is a former member of Cincinnati's city council as well as the former vice president of economic development and marketing for the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Chicago firm acquires Vehr Communications
