SOUTHPORT-BASED HORIZON GROUP OF NORTH AMERICA ACQUIRES MARKETING FIRMS CRONIN AND OFF LEASH STUDIOS
Horizon Group of North America has acquired Cronin – Connecticut’s largest independent full-service marketing agency – and Cronin’s visual content production company, Off Leash Studios. Together, the companies will continue to provide solutions to create winning customer experiences and build deeper brand connections and engagement to drive client growth.
The three firms will comprise a new entity called Cronin Group Holdings. Each firm will retain and operate under its current name. Cronin principals Kimberly Manning and Steven Wolfberg will continue in their roles as CEO and Chief Creative and Growth Officer, respectively. The company’s headquarters will remain in Glastonbury, Connecticut.
“We are building on the strong foundation of a thriving 73-year-old company that has doubled in size under the leadership of Kim and Steve,” said Mark Demuro, President of Horizon Group of North America, who will become Chairman of the combined entity. “The three companies will take a disciplined approach creating leadership distance for our clients, anticipating change, opening new markets, and leapfrogging competition.”
Cronin’s impressive track record of success includes national brands and regional leaders in the insurance, healthcare, financial services and restaurant categories.
“Working together to leverage our combined strengths, the three firms will inspire clients to maximize their success by outpacing consumer needs and expectations and owning the end-to-end customer experience,” said Manning.
“The new partnership with Horizon Group of North America will fuel Cronin’s growth by deepening services and elevating our regional and national stature,” added Wolfberg. “Our focus will be on delivering predictive insights, innovation to fuel incremental growth, advertising, design and visual identity to engage consumers and motivate behavior, impactful content to drive loyalty, and results-driven data analytics.”
About Cronin
Based just outside Hartford, Cronin is a digitally driven, results-focused marketing agency that’s propelled by technology, steeped in creativity and rooted in truth. The agency’s capabilities include: strategy and analytics; advertising; content development; media planning, buying and optimization; digital services; public relations; social media; direct marketing; and research. The agency was named the “Top Shop” in Connecticut by AdWeek Magazine, “Top Workplace” by the Hartford Courant three years in a row, and was declared the “Best Advertising Agency” and “Best Public Relations Firm” by the Hartford Business Journal. For additional information, visit www.cronin-co.com.
About Off Leash Studios
Off Leash Studios is an agile team of directors, editors, producers, animators, photographers and artists who work with brands, production partners and agencies big and small to craft visual content that engage audiences, move consumers and demand action. For more information, visit www.offleashstudios.com.
About Horizon Group of North America
Based in Southport, Connecticut, Horizon Group of North America is an insight-driven consumer and retail transformation expert with over 20 years experience. Horizon Group has successfully grown brands, started and scaled companies, led change, developed innovation, built business development partnerships, and optimized communications. Specialty services include sales and marketing plan development, product and service innovation, brand identity, positioning and packaging, e-commerce and go-to-market strategies, and behavioral consumer research. Clients include consumer products manufacturers, consumer services, retailers, and restaurants in the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit www.horizongroupna.com.