Eric Mower + Associates combines with Boston–area firm

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Eric Mower + Associates (EMA), Central New York’s largest advertising, marketing, and PR firm, has announced plans to combine with HB Agency, an Auburndale, Massachusetts–based marketing and PR agency.

The combination becomes effective Oct. 1, EMA said in a news release issued Wednesday. It didn’t disclose financial terms of the transaction.

“We signed papers last week,” says Eric Mower, EMA’s chairman and CEO, who spoke with BJNN by phone from the Boston area on Wednesday. The transaction closed on Aug. 31.

EMA has known HB Agency “for quite a while,” having worked with the marketing and PR firm on previous assignments, says Mower.

“They’re very complementary with us … They have a keen interest in energy and sustainability, which is one our specialty areas, as well as some other specialty areas, including health care,” he adds.

Mower calls the Boston market “robust,” noting his agency continues to look “for new fishing holes.”

EMA will retain HB’s staff of 20 as part of the combined firm.

Together, EMA and HB create a “digitally-integrated” agency with more than 250 employees and estimated 2015 capitalized billings approaching $250 million, according to the news release.

Kevin Hart, HB’s president and creative director, will continue to lead the Boston–area office and will join EMA as a partner.

Both Hart and Nicolas Boillot, the firm’s CEO, co-founded HB Agency in 1999.

Boillot will remain a member of the HB/EMA leadership team during the combination’s initial months, serving in a consulting role through the end of 2015.

Boillot will then leave the firm to focus on a business he co-founded, called SystemOne, which focuses on “connected medical diagnostics in the developing world,” according to the release.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com