Ariad Communications

July 13, 2015 (New York, NY) – Petsky Prunier is pleased to announce it has advised Toronto-based Ariad Communications, a leading content-driven, strategic digital agency, on its sale to Bluespire Marketing, a portfolio company of High Road Capital Partners.

Ariad is a leading digital agency that serves clients with its deep expertise and capabilities in content marketing, strategy development, digital marketing, and brand activation. For more than 20 years, Ariad’s marketing professionals have partnered with successful North American brands in the healthcare, CPG, B2B, and financial services industry verticals to generate brand engagement, deepen customer relationships, and instill loyalty. Those brands include Visa, TD, Unilever, Lifescan, BMO, Johnson & Johnson, Vale, and RBC.

Bluespire Marketing, a 130-person strategic marketing firm based in the U.S., provides a range of marketing, technology, and content solutions for U.S.-based organizations in highly regulated industries, as well as in the senior living and aging services industry. Bluespire’s notable current clients include Pfizer, Navy Federal Credit Union, North Shore-LIJ Health System, along with one of the three largest banks in the U.S.

The newly formed partnership between the companies will enable Ariad to expand its healthcare expertise and direct-to-consumer strategies in the U.S., while Bluespire will benefit from Ariad’s expertise in the Canadian healthcare system. High Road Capital Partners, the majority owner of Bluespire Marketing, acquired Ariad from majority owner Hugh Furneaux to create the partnership. Ariad will retain its name in Canada, and Bluespire will continue to operate under its brands in the U.S. Michael Beckerman, Ariad’s president, will become CEO of the combined North American agency.

A team from Petsky Prunier, led by Michael Petsky and Dylan Kearns, served as exclusive financial advisor to Ariad Communications.