Barnett Cox & Associates (BCA) has agreed to be acquired by AMF Media Group (AMF), an award-winning full-service marketing firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The deal becomes effective Jan. 1, 2018, officials for both companies announced today.
“We are excited about what this means for our clients and for our employees,” said BCA President and CEO Maggie Cox, who along with her husband Dave Cox founded the company 28 years ago.
“AMF is a perfect strategic fit for our clients, and for us. By blending our complementary skill sets, we will be able to offer our clients expanded service and strengthen our expertise,” Maggie Cox said. “The combined company gives us and our BCA employees an opportunity to be part of an even faster-growing business, yet lets us maintain our physical presence on the Central Coast.”
Vintage Foster, CEO of the San Ramon-based AMF Media Group, said: “In addition to a great group of talented professionals, BCA brings a sterling reputation in key industries that AMF sees as major growth opportunities. By pooling our talents, AMF will be able to create impactful campaigns for just about any kind of business or organization in California, and across the country.”
The combined company will provide branding and marketing, public relations, internal communications, web and app development, video production, events and crisis communications services. While new services come to BCA’s Central Coast clientele, BCA brings AMF deep expertise in a range of industries including land-use and development, tourism, health care and education.
“Businesses and not-for-profit organizations across the Central Coast will now have access to the combined companies’ fully integrated marketing and PR services, plus access to an in-house creative services team with extensive video production and commercial capabilities,” said Dave Cox, BCA’s executive vice president and chief operating officer.
“Happily, AMF is a company that shares our vision and values about how best to serve clients in an increasingly complex and competitive landscape,” Dave Cox said. “With AMF, we can tap into a full suite of creative services enabling us to provide clients with one shared strategic vision on any given project.”
The deal introduces AMF to California’s Central Coast, with BCA’s San Luis Obispo office joining AMF’s existing offices in the San Francisco Bay Area and Greater Los Angeles Region for a complete California footprint.
Maggie Cox will become president of AMF Media Group, Central California; Dave Cox will become AMF vice president of operations.
BCA and AMF are well regarded and have been honored with several accolades including ADDY, Davey, Summit, Telly, AVA Digital, PRSA, Poppy and Ragan’s PR Daily awards.
This transaction with Barnett Cox & Associates is scheduled to close on Jan. 1, 2018, subject to customary closing conditions.
About Barnett Cox & Associates
BCA has been an innovator in public relations, marketing, crisis communications, and community engagement for nearly 30 years. Clients include: Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, Twin Cities Community Hospital, California Polytechnic State University, and the California Mid-State Fair.
About AMF Media Group
AMF Media Group is a full-service agency that delivers a comprehensive and clear approach on brand strategy and marketing, public relations, crisis communications, internal communications, multimedia production, web design and development, event planning and management. Clients include: Armanino, Blue Shield of California, the City of Concord, California, Satellite Healthcare and Kaiser Permanente.