Riverside Fuels Experiential Marketing Giant

In a significant consolidation move within the brand experience sector, The Riverside Company has facilitated a major acquisition that reshapes the global agency arena. Its portfolio company, Impact XM, has successfully acquired Jack Morton from its long-time owner, Omnicom. This strategic integration is set to forge one of the most formidable players in live event and brand activation marketing worldwide.

The newly combined entity will adopt the globally recognized Jack Morton brand name, leveraging its established reputation and extensive international footprint. This decision underscores the inherent value of the Jack Morton brand and signifies the amplified capabilities, scale, and talent that Impact XM brings to this next phase of growth. The merger is designed to create a unified organization with a clear, powerful market identity.

This union brings together complementary expertise, creating a comprehensive, end-to-end experiential marketing solution. Impact XM's integrated approach to brand experiences will now be augmented by Jack Morton's robust global network and creative prowess. The combined agency boasts enhanced capabilities across strategy, digital innovation, creative development, production, fabrication, and sophisticated impact measurement, addressing the dynamic needs of leading global brands.

With an expanded operational presence across 20 offices spanning North America, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia Pacific region, the merged agency is exceptionally positioned to deliver impactful human experiences. This global reach, coupled with deeper category specialization and a cohesive delivery model, aims to drive tangible business outcomes for its clientele. Riverside's investment aligns with its strategy to bolster global sales and establish a superior client service framework.

Jared Pollacco, who currently leads Impact XM, will continue as the Chief Executive Officer of the consolidated business. He highlighted the long-standing evolution of Impact XM towards a more integrated, global model, emphasizing that this merger accelerates that vision by uniting Impact XM's unified experiential methodology with Jack Morton's international scale and creative strengths. This move is expected to significantly enhance client offerings and team collaboration.

This transaction marks the fifth add-on acquisition for Impact XM since its acquisition by an affiliate of The Riverside Company in December 2023. It further exemplifies Riverside's sustained commitment to its Business Services Specialization, a sector where the firm has a deep history, having invested in over 400 platform and add-on companies since 1988. The experiential marketing sector, a key segment within business services, continues to see robust activity as brands prioritize engaging customer interactions.