Government advisory firm Consulum joins global player Stagwell

Consulum, a leading pan-MENA government advisory firm, has joined Stagwell, a global marketing-focused group with over 13,000 staff worldwide.

Founded in 2012, Consulum has grown to a team of approximately 160 professionals specializing in strategic communications, public policy, and leadership support. The firm has offices in Riyadh, Manama, Dubai, and outside of the Middle East, in London, Cape Town, and Kuala Lumpur.

In the region, Consulum partners with a range of high-profile government clients, and was recently named one of the Middle East’s leading government consulting firms.

“Consulum was formed 12 years ago to answer a clear need for governments, heads of state and their institutions to have access to a dedicated consultancy focused on strategy, communications and policy. As a result of that singular focus and mission, Consulum is now a market leader in the segment,” said Consulum Chairman and co-founder, Tim Ryan.

Ryan Coetzee and James Davies, CEO and Managing Partner respectively, added: “We are delighted to be joining the Stagwell’s impressive network. It marks a pivotal moment as we move to our next phase of growth. The combination of our government advisory services with Stagwell’s renowned innovation and cutting-edge technologies will significantly enhance our ability to offer clients a wider range of world-class services.”

Headquartered in New York, Stagwell is a network of 70+ agencies and consultancies in 30+ countries worldwide. Members include the likes of Allison, Anomaly, Doner, The Harris Poll, Veritas, Forsman & Bodenfors, and 72andSunny.

Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO of Stagwell, said the addition of Consulum provides the network with a boost across Consulum’s footprint, but in particular in the Middle East.

“Our acquisition of Consulum marks a significant step in expanding Stagwell’s influence and capabilities in MENA as the region’s strategic importance to global marketers continues to grow,” said Penn. “With Consulum’s expertise and established government relationships, we are poised to offer unparalleled strategic communications services to our clients worldwide.”

For Stagwell, which is backed by private equity, the acquisition follows the previous bolt-ons of Leaders (MENA), Bera (Global), Business Traveler (Global), Luxine Publique Relations (Canada), What’s Next Partners (France), Sidekick (UK), and Team Epiphany (US).

Meanwhile, over in Europe, several Stagwell member firms are currently working with brands on high-profile campaigns and research studies related to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.