Promo and direct-marketing agency Carlson Marketing has bought meetings and events agency Navigant Performance Group.
Minneapolis-based Carlson incorporates Denver-based Navigant into Carlson’s Meetings & Events division, adding 100 staffers in four offices. The division handles incentive and recognition events, business meetings and enterprise travel solutions, which dovetails with Carlson work in consumer and business-to-business travel worldwide.
There are no client conflicts between the two agencies. Carlson’s meetings and events clients include Saturn, Nortel, GlaxoSmithKline, Kodak, NBC, Merck and Saab Automobile USA.
Navigant President Steve Some becomes senior VP at Carlson, overseeing business development and client service for the East Coast from Navigant’s Parsippany, NJ office. Carlson also keeps Navigant offices in Marlborough, MA, and Minneapolis.
The purchase gives Navigant access to Carlson’s direct marketing, loyalty, interactive marketing and research services.
“By joining Carlson Marketing, Navigant becomes part of one of the largest and most powerful marketing organizations in the world,” said Robbin Rouillard, Carlson executive VP-Meetings & Events, in a statement.
The deal closed Aug. 10; terms were not disclosed. Carlson’s Canadian sister division, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, bought Navigant parent Navigant International, then sold Navigant’s U.S. operations to Carlson Marketing after the Canadian deal closed early last week. Both divisions are owned by Minneapolis-based Carlson Cos.
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