The Incepta Group has expanded its marketing services offering through the acquisition of the two leading UK sponsorship consultancies: Karen Earl Limited and Redmandarin. Unlike most sponsorship agencies, both consultancies act independently from sponsorship rights holders. Redmandarin provides clients with specialist advice on developing accountable sponsorship strategies, whilst Karen Earl Limited is a full-service consultancy.

Established in 1999, Redmandarin has developed an innovative new sector within sponsorship consulting, working on an impartial basis with clients to establish and recommend targeted sponsorship strategies before identifying specific opportunities, negotiating sponsorship deals and measuring the return on investment. In its short history Redmandarin, and its research subsidiary The Sponsorship Research Company, has worked for a blue chip client base and clients include Andersen, Barclays, Ericsson, Sky, Unilever and Visa.

Karen Earl Limited was established in 1984 and has three business divisions: Consultancy, Sponsorship Management and PR & Media. It is probably best known for taking Cornhill Insurance from an unknown to a household name through its Test match cricket sponsorship. Current clients include Coca-Cola, CGNU, Gallaher, Guardian Media, Norwich Union, ntl, Royal Bank of Scotland, Wilkinson Sword and Whitbread.

David Wright, Executive Chairman of Incepta said ‘Our clients are increasingly recognising the strategic value of sponsorship in delivering brand communication. The acquisition of Karen Earl Limited and Redmandarin together offers our clients high-level, impartial and independent advice on sponsorship strategy development and implementation, which traditionally has been property-led rather than brand-led. Our acquisition philosophy is to bring companies into the Group which are best in class, and we believe that by bringing the complementary skills of Karen Earl Limited and Redmandarin into the Group we are able to offer the full range of sponsorship services that our clients are demanding’.

Sally Hancock, Chief Executive of Redmandarin said ‘In the two years since our formation Redmandarin has very rapidly established itself at the forefront of sponsorship strategy consulting. The company has grown rapidly, with an increasingly international client list, and it makes perfect sense at this stage in our business to join the Incepta Group and to capitalise on its significant international presence and diverse, complementary core capabilities.’

Karen Earl, Managing Director of Karen Earl Limited said: ‘In 17 years we have built a strong reputation for effective sponsorship management. We see this move into the Incepta Group as the next stage in our development, enabling us to expand our growing international operations. We have been impressed with the way in which Incepta’s business values mirror our own, something we saw as imperative when making the move from independence.’

For further information please contact:

David Wright
Executive Chairman
Incepta Group plc
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7282 8002

Karen Earl
Managing Director
Karen Earl Limited
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7243 7104

Richard Nichols
Chief Executive
Incepta Group plc
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7282 2865

Sally Hancock
Chief Executive
Redmandarin
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7566 9410