Second Buy Gives MediaSense New Territories, Services

London-based media auditing, management and analytics firm MediaSense has acquired creative and media advisory specialist R3, significantly expanding its footprint in North America and Asia.

MediaSense was founded by Andy Pearch and Graham Brown in 2009 and operates a media auditing platform called DiPA (Digital Performance Analytics), powered by a proprietary insight engine, machine learning techniques and a team of analysts and data scientists. The firm bought PwC's Marketing & Media advisory team six months ago, and is majority-owned since 2021 by private equity firm Apiary Capital.

R3, which bought advertising intelligence platform Adbrands in June 2022, promises clients a competitive edge and improved ROI from agencies, media and marketing spend. The firm has around 100 staff in offices in the US, Asia, EMEA and LATAM.

In addition to new geographies, the latest buy expands MediaSense's service beyond media operations into marketing operations, including content and creative, and brings its headcount to more than 230. R3 co-founders Greg Paull and Shufen Goh will join the expanded business's executive leadership team, and R3 will continue under its own brand 'for now'.

'Our growth ambitions are informed by listening to our clients' current and future needs', says MediaSense CEO Brown, 'and increasingly they require joined-up advice across disciplines and territories. With the acquisition of R3, we are expanding beyond media operations into marketing operations, adding content and creative capabilities and significantly growing our presence in North America and Asia'.

R3 Principal and co-founder Paull says the combination 'creates a truly independent global advisory business'. He adds: 'As one team, we have the ability to support brands with cross-discipline experience and intelligence as they transform their marketing organizations from the inside, and through agency, data and tech partnerships'. Goh says MediaSense is 'the ideal partner with whom to grow', and explains: 'We are completely aligned on clients' requirements for best-in-class advice and more integrated thinking in relation to their marketing organisations, external partners and governance over their marketing investments'.

Web sites: www.media-sense.com and www.rthree.com .

Image L to R: Graham Brown, CEO at MediaSense and R3's Co-Founders and Principal's, Shufen Goh and Greg Paull