Photo: Espen Solli
Paritee, the fast-growing European advisory and communications group uniting best-in-market agencies across key geographies, today announced the acquisition of Kruse Larsen, a leading Norwegian advisory firm specialised in strategic communication, public and governmental affairs, and crisis management, and its subsidiaries including Pressure, a highly specialised digital public affairs firm.
– Over time, we’ve had meaningful conversations about what clients and the market will need in the years ahead. We are living through a period of extraordinary volatility marked by faster shifts, more complexity and higher stakes. It is no longer enough to simply keep pace; we must stay ahead. Joining forces allows us to do exactly that and to build something genuinely new and distinctive, says Jan-Erik Larsen, CEO of Kruse Larsen and Chair of Pressure.
Since its launch in 2015, Kruse Larsen has grown into one of Norway’s most recognised advisory firms within strategic communication, political analysis and crisis management. The company has around 40 employees, including strong teams with backgrounds from politics, business and media. Its subsidiary Pressure, is a highly specialised digital public affairs agency working across digital advocacy, campaigns and new-channel influence. The group also includes strategy and analysis firm Kime, and design and creative agency Eggedosis.
– This is a major strategic step, especially for our clients. We gain significant strength in Norway, backed by a Nordic and international network through Geelmuyden Kiese and Paritee. We will remain who we are with our identity, culture and approach but with more tools, deeper expertise and new opportunities for our colleagues, Larsen adds.
Kruse Larsen has particular expertise within energy and sustainability, real estate and urban development, finance, transport, health, seafood, international relations and defence/security. Geelmuyden Kiese, with offices in Norway, Sweden and Denmark, brings complementary strengths, including deep experience in technology and telecom, mobility and infrastructure, defence and security, and health and life sciences. Both companies will continue serving clients independently. Where it strengthens impact and creates added value, they will collaborate to deliver integrated solutions.
– Kruse Larsen and Pressure both bring specialist capabilities in business-critical advisory, while Geelmuyden Kiese has built a uniquely broad Nordic platform within corporate communication. Paritee exists to bring precisely such leading agencies together into one shared and strong community. Geelmuyden Kiese, Kruse Larsen and Pressure will each remain best-in-class on their own, but together we can deliver broader, deeper and more impactful services. That is a major gain for our clients, and it makes each agency an even more rewarding place to work, says Lars Erik Grønntun, founder and Executive Chairman of Paritee.
Together with Geelmuyden Kiese Norway and its 35 employees and associated partners, this collective of strong specialist agencies forms one of the country’s most robust and innovative communication hubs.
– These are exceptionally strong brands, built to deliver what clients need, when they need it, backed by highly skilled people. I look forward to working closely with these companies both jointly and individually. This strengthens our ability to leverage the full Scandinavian and international ecosystem created within Paritee, says Karne Lykkebo, CEO of Geelmuyden Kiese Group.
Kruse Larsen and its subsidiary Pressure will continue to operate as independent agencies under their own brands, working in close collaboration with Geelmuyden Kiese in Norway and across the Nordics. Both the Kruse Larsen group and Geelmuyden Kiese in Norway will report to Lykkebo in her role as Group CEO.
– Kruse Larsen has built a remarkably strong position in the Norwegian market, driven by integrity, professional depth and honest, clear advice. The more we have spoken, the more we have realised how much we share in terms of culture and values. We are delighted to welcome the entire team into the Paritee family, says Jonas Palmqvist, CEO of Paritee.
Through the transaction, partners in Kruse Larsen and Pressure become shareholders in Paritee. Kruse Larsen will continue with its current management structure: Tim Peters remains COO and operational lead; Celine Gran continues as Managing Director of Pressure; and Line Skjolde continues as Managing Director of Eggedosis. At the same time Rolf Ellingsen Aaneland, CEO of Kime, part of Kruse Larsen, steps in as new Managing Director of Geelmuyden Kiese in Norway.
