New Owner and Investor for Croud

London-based private equity firm ECI has acquired a majority stake in digital marketing firm Croud, from previous owner LDC.

Founded in 2011, Croud provides marketing strategy and consultancy alongside SEO, PPC, content, programmatic, paid social, creative and analytics services. Its team of 600 in-house digital specialists is supplemented by a global network or marketplace of 2,900 digital marketing professionals. The firm is chaired by former Aegis CEO Jerry Buhlmann and in the last two years has added former Google Analytics exec Avinash Kaushik to its team as Chief Strategy Officer and Frederick Stallings as its first Chief Data Officer.

ECI, which also invests in data-focused ad tech company MiQ, was advised in the transaction by insights industry M&A expert JEGI CLARITY. ECI says its funding and support will enable Croud's leadership team to continue scaling its business over the next five years, and plans 'further acquisitions' as well as organic growth.

Croud founder and CEO Luke Smith (pictured) states: 'We're delighted to be partnering with ECI for the next phase of Croud's journey, maintaining our independence, while capitalising on new opportunities and innovation. This sale marks a significant milestone in our long-term growth plans'.

Croud is based in London, with offices in Shrewsbury, and overseas in New York, Atlanta and Dubai, and is online at www.croud.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.