Four acquires data and insights-led agency Legend Engage

Four Communications Group (Four) has acquired data and insights-led agency Legend Engage. Rebranding to Four Engage, the agency will move immediately to Four’s headquarters in London Bridge.

Legend Engage’s main services include data-driven social and digital insights, strategy and engagement. Clients include the BBC Good Food Show, Guinness World Records, HRA Pharma, Puressentiel and GSK, and the agency’s fee income in 2016 was some £840,000.

The Legend Engage team will work closely with Four’s own digital and media practices, as well as Four’s strategic sector teams, to deliver campaigns – particularly in health, travel, financial services, property and hospitality.

Nan Williams, chief executive at Four Communications Group, said: “We are seeing huge demand for and growth in social and content services and when the opportunity arose for an acquisition grounded in real-time, tangible data and insights we knew it would power our offering to the next level. Rachel and Kath have built a very smart agency and propriety products which will dovetail seamlessly into our integrated service offer and work across all our key markets.”

Kath Ludlow and Rachel O’Sullivan founded Legend Engage in 2013. Both have become managing directors of Four Engage.

This acquisition is the seventh since Four successfully secured a £10m investment of equity finance from BGF (Business Growth Fund) in 2015, and is its 11th acquisition overall; including Packer Forbes and Rain Communications in 2016 and Insight Consulting Group last month.