Finn Partners Acquires Highly Respected Horn Group to Expand Technology Practice

NEW YORK, Sept. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Finn Partners today announced it has acquired Horn Group, Inc., a widely recognized, technology public relations leader with offices in San Francisco and New York. The move will expand Finn Partners' technology practice into innovative, venture-funded companies and emerging growth markets by leveraging Horn Group's 20+ years as a top tech brand, as well as the team's creativity, expertise and industry relationships.  Sabrina Horn will be managing partner, U.S. technology practice leader for Finn Partners.

Offices throughout the Finn Partners global network are staffed with award-winning tech practice teams.  The technology practice at Finn Partners is its largest, with 100 employees generating $20 million in fees.  With Horn Group, Finn enhances its strength in enterprise cloud applications, security, storage, big data, services, consumer/IOT, adtech, digital publishing and mobile sectors. The combined independent company positions Finn Partners as a digital PR powerhouse in the two hottest U.S. tech hubs: San Francisco and New York. Finn Partners' overall annualized fees will now be approximately $70 million, and the firm will have 500 global employees, advancing it in popular industry rankings. The Finn/Horn deal was facilitated by Gould + Partners.

Geoffrey Moore, business guru, author, venture partner and advisor to the tech industry's most visionary and notable executives, said, "This is the best combination of PR talent, resources and energy the tech community has seen in awhile. The power of Horn Group's connections and reputation, along with Finn's expertise and scale, will hugely benefit the clients they serve.   Ultimately, this is where Sabrina's more than 24-year legacy in tech really comes to life.  It's a great match for both agencies."

Peter Finn, Founding Partner of Finn Partners, commented, "Since our inception, we've experienced tremendous growth due to our in-depth knowledge of the technology sector and ability to win and support key accounts in each of our U.S. and U.K. offices.  With the addition of Horn Group, we're expanding our capabilities to support clients nationally and globally even further by bringing in additional strategic firepower in key tech sectors, as well as exceptional creativity and a stellar service approach. We're pleased that Sabrina Horn will now be leading our technology practice to help us reach our aggressive growth goals in the coming years."

Sabrina Horn, President and CEO of Horn Group, commented, "For over two decades, Horn Group has been at the forefront of the tech industry, helping the world's most innovative companies in tech and media create new markets and evolve their brands.  We have also prided ourselves on preserving a strong employee-centric culture. With Finn Partners, we will support our clients with richer services, digital and global capabilities and bring more opportunities for employee growth in a like-minded independent agency culture.  I am excited to work with Peter and his team and to explore new possibilities together.  This is a thrilling next step in the evolution of Horn Group!"

Horn Group's San Francisco office will merge into Finn Partners West, led by managing partner, Howard Solomon. Horn Group's New York office will merge into Finn Partners' New York technology practice reporting to managing partner Alicia Young. Horn Group's digital practice will merge into Finn Partners Digital, led by Noah Finn. Debra Raine, leader of Horn.Global and the West Coast office, and Brian Sinderson, who leads Horn Group New York, will continue in their leadership roles within Finn Partners.  Sabrina Horn will dedicate her time to business development and clients throughout the United States, reporting to Richard Funess, Senior Managing Partner of Finn Partners.

More Background on Horn Group

Horn Group was established in San Francisco in 1991 by Sabrina Horn, one of the very first and few female CEOs in the tech industry at that time. Through multiple economic cycles, the agency expanded into several tech hubs across the country and opened its New York office in 2002.  Long before many of its competitors, Horn Group formed a digital practice in 2004 to provide interactive and social capabilities to complement its PR services to clients.  The agency has worked with companies through all stages of growth from early stage startups to companies tracking toward IPO or expanding into new vertical markets, as well as Fortune 1000 companies looking to reinvent their brands.

Horn Group has served as agency of record and produced award-winning work for some of the top companies in technology and digital media including PeopleSoft, Arbor Software, Cognos, Vantive, McKinsey, Alteryx, TradeShift, Intaact, RedSeal, Westcon, Novell, myCheck, Commerce One, RightMedia, Adify, Forbes Media, TriNet, Acxiom, Glam.com, Gannett, Rubicon Project, Penton and Readers Digest.  The agency has won numerous awards including PR News 2014: Top Places to Work in PR and Best Technology Agency, Holmes Report 2011.  Sabrina Horn has received many accolades for her leadership and accomplishments, and most recently was inducted into the PR Hall of Fame 2014. For more information, please go to www.horngroup.com or www.finnpartners.com.

About Finn Partners, Inc.

Finn Partners was launched in late 2011 to realize Peter Finn's vision to create a leading communications agency dedicated to shaping a bold new future in which innovation and partnership are strong drivers of the brand. Finn Partners specializes in the full spectrum of communications services, including digital and social media. Specialty areas include technology, consumer, education, travel & lifestyle, CSR, arts, health, and public and corporate affairs.

Finn Partners was named "Best Midsize Agency" in 2015, "Best Agency to Work For" in 2013 and "Best New Agency" in 2012 by the industry's Holmes Report. Headquartered in New York City, the company has approximately 500 employees, with offices in Chicago, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Jerusalem, London, Los Angeles, Munich, Nashville, Paris, San Francisco and Washington D.C., and has additional international capabilities through both PROI and Global Reach. Find us at www.finnpartners.com and follow us on Twitter @finnpartners.

More Industry Commentary on the Finn Partners/Horn Group Acquisition

"Finn Partners now has one of the most iconic Sillicon Valley brands in tech PR.  And Horn Group gets to play on a much bigger stage.  This is huge news for the tech PR community, a great win for Finn, and for the whole team at Horn Group!" -- Maureen Blanc, Founder, Blanc & Otus Public Relations

"This is big news for the tech PR industry.  The combination of Horn's brand and reputation, coupled with Finn's resources and forward momentum, will be something to watch. As a member of Sabrina's advisory board, a three-time client and friend, huge congrats to everyone at Horn and Finn!" -- Bill Hewitt, CEO, Exari Systems, Inc.

"Hummer Winblad Venture Partners has partnered with Horn Group during the last 20 years to represent our enterprise software company investments in their launch strategies and their positioning in large emerging market opportunities. Horn Group's specialty in the enterprise B2B space has made them a go-to PR agency.  They have helped launch literally hundreds of innovative enterprise software companies and made them category leaders. This is a great move for Finn Partners, Horn Group and the industry. Horn Group offers a wonderful team: smart, tough and innovative, with lots of firepower. Congratulations!" -- Ann Winblad, Founding Partner, Hummer Winblad Venture Partners

"Horn Group's reputation, especially in the enterprise B2B space, is top notch, and so is the brand Sabrina and her team have built—first in Silicon Valley and then, 10 years later in New York.  Finn Partners is getting a great bi-coastal tech agency with a massive network. Well done!" -- Peter Sobiloff, Managing Director, Insight Venture Partners

"Talk about a great pairing of two stellar PR shops! Horn Group and Finn Partners: it's a hand-in-glove fit... and bound to be successful. Congrats to all." -- Sam Whitmore, Founder, Owner, MediaSurvey

"Having worked with Sabrina since the very early days of the enterprise software market, I witnessed firsthand the growth of her agency and how Horn Group overcame many challenges and helped put 100s of companies on the map.  Together, Finn Partners and Horn Group have the potential to really change the PR landscape.  It will be a very exciting new chapter for everyone." -- MR Rangaswami, Managing Director, SandHill Group

"Horn Group is one of the few PR agencies that has deep sector expertise in adtech and digital media, which will be a huge plus for Finn's tech practice. Additionally, Horn's specialty with big media companies that are undergoing digital transformation has enormous growth potential."  -- David J. Moore, Chairman-Xaxis, President-WPP Digital

Contacts:
Finn Partners:
[email protected]
[email protected]

Horn Group:
[email protected]

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SOURCE Finn Partners

Related Links

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