Last week it was announced that one Conshohocken-based communications company acquired another Conshohocken-based communications company. Here is the press release:
Diccicco Battista Communications (DBC), a leading full-service brand communications firm, announced today that it has merged with DeFazio Communications, LLC, a growing public relations agency that specializes in media relations services for corporations and emerging growth companies.
The addition of DeFazio Communications, led by principal Tony DeFazio, will enhance DBC’s already successful public relations practice by strengthening its media relations capabilities and bolstering the agency’s current client base and expanding its financial and real estate clientele. The deal also provides DeFazio’s national portfolio of public relations clients access to DBC’s integrated brand communications services.
The merger of the two companies is part of DBC’s strategic plan for growth, which began in 2010 when Creative Director Sean Donahue and Public Relations Director Tim Cifelli became agency partners alongside CEO Mike Diccicco. DBC offers award winning advertising, media, digital, and PR services to clients in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, technology, retail, education, financial services, real estate, and manufacturing industries. The newly combined client roster will increase total agency billings by 20%.
For DBC, the most exciting aspect of the merger is the addition of Tony DeFazio, one of the Philadelphia region’s premier communications advisors and practitioners, who brings tremendous media relations, crisis communications, reputation management, thought leadership and new business development experience. The deal also reunites Cifelli and DeFazio, who once served together as a top public relations team in the region.
“Tony and I worked in strategic partnerships for many years and we continued to stay in touch,” stated Tim Cifelli, Senior Vice President at Diccicco Battista Communications. “As part of DBC’s strategic growth plan, which included a new headquarters, new ownership, top notch team members and exciting clientele, the next step was to add the kind of senior PR leadership that I knew Tony could deliver. I’m thrilled to have him by my side once again.”
As public relations firms diversify with digital and social media services, agencies that incorporate a wide range of public relations offerings within a comprehensive marketing communications platform will retain a competitive edge in the industry. The merger with DeFazio Communications solidifies DBC’s position as a premier marketing communications and brand management firm by fulfilling that value proposition.
“I am excited to be working with Tim once again,” stated Tony DeFazio. “Our portfolio of clients increasingly desired integrated communications including advertising and marketing as well as interactive services to support their growth. Having worked with Tim and DBC on many projects, my view was their top-flight creative, digital and social media services would be additive. By joining our two respective teams, we are signaling to the new and existing clients the emergence of a new potent offering.”