News
LDC-backed Croud expands US footprint with acquisition of Vert Digital
17 Jun 2024
Croud, the full-service marketing partner, has acquired Vert Digital, a digital marketing and advertising agency based in Atlanta. The transaction marks the fifth acquisition Croud has made with the support of private equity partner LDC.
Vert Digital’s expertise in paid media, creative, CRM, and analytics complements Croud’s current offerings, further deepening and expanding the agency’s stateside operations by tapping into a leading technology hub and talent pool for the benefit of existing and future clients. Croud’s distinct Croudie network of over 2,900 on-demand, in-market digital marketing specialists, will be seamlessly integrated into the Vert business, offering clients truly global scale and expertise.
Vert Digital has been at the forefront of mobile-first digital agencies since 2009, with a dedicated focus on improving the customer journey and driving measurable business impact for its clients. Led by co-founders Kevin Planovsky and Michael Lentz, the agency’s client roster consists of growing, mid-market Enterprise brands including industry leaders like American Honda Motor Company, First Watch Restaurants, and Barco.
Luke Smith, co-founder and Global CEO at Croud, said: “The US is Croud’s most important strategic growth area over the coming years; our recent organic success highlights that. We are always looking at ways to supplement that growth with acquisitions that enhance that strategy, and in Kevin, Michael and the fabulous team at Vert we found just that.
“Like all of our acquisitions, we have taken our time to find the right partner, and have already been working together with Vert for over a year, which has highlighted the passion, drive and focus they have for their clients.
We’re also delighted to expand our footprint in the US; Atlanta is a welcoming city, super well connected and has a great talent pool and client base for us to expand into.”
Croud has been a key partner in the expansion of Vert’s digital marketing efforts in Europe and Asia-Pacific over the last year. As Vert looked to scale its business both domestically and internationally, Croud was recognised as the best choice to drive those goals forward. This shared history, combined with strong leadership and cultural alignment, will set the teams up for success, united behind a shared vision, as they look to scale Croud in Atlanta. Thanks to a “campus-style” business model, with outposts outside of major hubs like London and New York, Croud is consistently able to tap into and nurture a wider talent pool.
Kevin Planovsky, co-founder & Principal, Account Strategy, Vert Digital, added: “Our strong client portfolio and complementary services, combined with Atlanta’s high concentration of Fortune 1000 Enterprise companies presents an incredible growth opportunity for all. Michael, myself and the entire Vert team are really excited about the global opportunities that this acquisition brings, particularly in enabling our clients to tap into world-class expertise through the Croudie network. We’ve already achieved so much together, and we can’t wait to get started on this next chapter of growing and evolving Croud in Atlanta.”
LDC invested in Croud in 2019 to support the management team’s plans to expand internationally, invest in its proprietary technology and services, and explore complementary acquisitions. During that time, Croud has made several significant acquisitions including Born Social, Croud Luxe (previously known as VERB Brands), impakt Advisors and Metageni.
In 2024, Croud has seen a strong period of double-digit growth with big wins in the US and UK, including Frasers Group and Nespresso.
