Discover Milestone Moments and Industry News

Milestone Advisory acts as strategic M&A adviser to Benchmark Group on the sale of NSE to Esports Global Fund

Milestone Advisory has acted as the corporate finance adviser to Benchmark Group on the sale of NSE (National Student Esports) to Esports Global Fund LP, in a transaction that marks a defining moment for the UK’s student esports sector.

Milestone Advisory Supports Bohr on Strategic Growth Investment from Hartree Partners

Milestone Advisory Supports Bohr on Strategic Growth Investment from Hartree Partners

Omnicom’s IPG Merger Clearances and Advisor-Tech Acquisitions Highlight 2025’s Strategic M&A Pivot

August 2025 marks a pivotal week in marketing M&A. Omnicom’s much-anticipated merger with Interpublic Group cleared UK regulatory hurdles, forging what will likely be the largest agency network globally. Simultaneously, PE firm Shamrock Capital acquired Penta Group, and GTCR prepared its acquisition of FMG Suite—both signalling premium demand for data-powered communications and compliance-conscious marketing platforms. Here’s what these deals reveal about today’s acquisition strategies.

Part 3: The Future – Risks, Opportunities & Preparing for AI Dominance

How Publicis’s Captiv8 Acquisition Is Shaping the Next Era of Influencer ROI

Influencer marketing has matured beyond simple sponsorships. Brands demand precision, accountability, and integration into wider media strategies. Publicis Groupe’s May 2025 acquisition of Captiv8 for $150 million—adding to its existing Influential platform—demonstrates how large agencies are building identity-driven influencer ecosystems. This article explores why Captiv8 matters, how it complements Publicis’s data capabilities, and what brand marketers should consider when integrating creator campaigns into their growth playbooks.

Part 2: AI’s Role in M&A – Value, Risk, and Strategic Considerations

How are buyers filtering genuine AI value from noise?

How marketing agencies can thrive during economic uncertainty

Economic uncertainty is the new normal for businesses with inflation, evolving client expectations, and rapid technological disruption, agency leaders are finding that old growth strategies no longer guarantee future success. During a recent SoDA webinar, Miles Welch and Paul Kingsley of Milestone Advisory, Kevin Gibbons of Re:signal and Bethan Vincent of Open Velocity, explored what agency growth really looks like in this climate.

Milestone advises on the sale of Yodel Mobile, App Marketing Agency of the Year, to NP Digital.

Part 1: The AI-Led Transformation of Marketing Agencies

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept for marketing agencies; it is the present-day reality reshaping how agencies operate, compete, and create value. At Milestone Advisory, we are seeing a fundamental shift where AI is no longer just a tool but a mindset - one that determines which agencies will thrive in the coming years.