In the last two years, private equity firms have become major players in the marketing and communications industry. They’re no longer just investors—they’re helping reshape how agencies work, grow, and compete. These firms are buying well-known agencies, investing in new ones, and changing how the industry is structured. Below are some of the most important deals from 2024 and 2025 that show how private equity is transforming the agency model.

1. R/GA Bought by Truelink Capital

Investor: Truelink Capital
Focus: Digital marketing and creative work
Why It Matters:
R/GA was one of the most famous creative agencies owned by Interpublic Group. Now, it's been sold to Truelink Capital. This deal shows how private equity wants to grow strong digital agencies by adding money and business support. Truelink will likely help R/GA grow faster and become more efficient.

2. KKR Invests in FGS Global

Investor: KKR
Focus: Public relations and crisis communication
Why It Matters:
KKR’s investment shows that communications and PR firms are becoming more valuable. FGS helps companies manage their reputation and deal with big challenges like media crises or investor pressure. Private equity is now interested in this space because it offers high profits and steady demand.

3. S4 Capital Gets Private Equity Help to Grow

Investor: Undisclosed
Focus: Digital-first, data-driven marketing
Why It Matters:
S4 Capital, founded by Sir Martin Sorrell, focuses on fast, tech-driven marketing. With new private equity support, it plans to grow globally and build better data and AI tools. This shows that even fast-moving, digital agencies are turning to private equity for help scaling up.

4. Stagwell Grows with Help from Private Equity

Investor: Various private equity firms
Focus: Integrated marketing and media
Why It Matters:
Stagwell is buying many smaller agencies and bringing them together into one strong group. With backing from private equity, it’s building a full-service marketing company that mixes data, media, and creativity. This strategy helps clients get more services in one place and helps Stagwell grow faster.

5. WPP Sells Smaller Agencies to Private Equity

Investor: Various private equity firms
Focus: Digital transformation and restructuring
Why It Matters:
WPP, one of the biggest ad companies, is selling parts of its business that are no longer essential. Private equity firms are buying these parts, hoping to make them more focused and profitable. This helps WPP concentrate on digital services while giving PE firms a chance to grow niche agencies.

6. Real Chemistry Buys Avant Healthcare

Investor: New Mountain Capital
Focus: Healthcare marketing and AI
Why It Matters:
Real Chemistry is growing fast in healthcare marketing. With private equity support, it bought Avant Healthcare to add more data and AI tools to its services. This deal shows that health-focused agencies using technology are a big area of interest for investors.

7. Supreme Group Buys Health+Commerce

Investor: Trinity Hunt Partners
Focus: Healthcare PR and digital marketing
Why It Matters:
Supreme Group is building a larger healthcare marketing business by buying specialized firms like Health+Commerce. This “roll-up” strategy helps them grow quickly and serve more clients. Private equity firms like Trinity Hunt support this kind of scaling in specialized markets.

8. Agital Buys Digital Edge and Go Fish Digital

Investor: Trinity Hunt Partners
Focus: SEO and AI-driven marketing
Why It Matters:
Agital wants to be a leader in SEO and digital marketing powered by AI. By buying Digital Edge and Go Fish Digital, it gets strong teams and tools to improve its services. This shows that investors are excited about AI tools in marketing.

9. Shamrock Capital Invests in Carnegie Dartlet

Investor: Shamrock Capital
Focus: Marketing for higher education
Why It Matters:
Carnegie Dartlet helps colleges and universities attract students using data-driven campaigns. With Shamrock’s help, it can grow and improve its tools. This deal shows that even education marketing is becoming more targeted and high-tech—and private equity sees big potential.

10. Presidio Investors Buys Only Agency

Investor: Presidio Investors
Focus: Luxury, beauty, and entertainment
Why It Matters:
Only Agency works with high-end brands in fashion and entertainment. It’s small but very specialized. With Presidio’s help, it can grow while keeping its unique, high-quality style. This shows that private equity is also interested in boutique agencies with strong identities.

11. AEA Investors Buys Huge from IPG

Investor: AEA Investors
Focus: UX, branding, and digital transformation
Why It Matters:
Huge is known for digital design and branding. When IPG sold it to AEA Investors, it showed that even big ad groups are rethinking their portfolios. AEA will likely help Huge grow faster and focus more on user experience and business transformation.

Private equity is changing the marketing industry. These deals show how investors are helping agencies grow, use more data and AI, and become more efficient. Creativity is still important—but now, it’s mixed with business thinking and long-term planning. Agencies that can combine great ideas with smart operations are the ones that will lead the future.