US-based marketing and business consulting firm Marketbridge acquires April Six Technology & Science from The MISSION Group
2nd January, 2025: The global marketing and PR group, April Six, has been acquired from The MISSION Group Plc. by US-based Marketbridge, a leading integrated growth consulting and marketing firm.
April Six Technology and April Six Science & Innovation deliver global strategic marketing and PR services, with Clients including: AWS, HPE, Hitachi, EY, Innovate UK, Ordnance Survey, and the UK Hydrographic Office. April Six Mobility – which serves Clients in the B2C automotive sector – remains within The MISSION Group.
With the addition of April Six Technology & Science operations in the UK and US, Marketbridge brings together more than 300 business consultants, data scientists, technologists, digital marketers, media specialists, designers, content creators, and communications experts dedicated to helping large enterprises and aspirational brands grow rapidly and profitably—with zero signal loss from strategy through execution.
The acquisition of April Six aligns with Marketbridge’s commitment to addressing the evolving needs of growth-focused organisations. As businesses navigate complex market dynamics, the combined expertise of Marketbridge and April Six will empower Clients to transition seamlessly from strategy to execution, ensuring impactful and measurable results. Together, they will offer comprehensive, data-driven strategies that optimise marketing spend, enhance brand and accelerate revenue growth. This is Marketbridge’s first acquisition in EMEA, expanding its global footprint.
“We are thrilled to welcome April Six into the Marketbridge family. This marks a significant step in our mission to eliminate fragmentation in sales and marketing efforts and provide our Clients with integrated, high-velocity growth solutions,” said John Shomaker, CEO, Marketbridge. “Together, we will continue to rewrite the rules of sales, marketing, and digital engagement to help global brands reinvent growth.”
Fiona Shepherd, Founder and CEO of April Six, commented: “For organisations at the cutting edge of innovation, who need to move at pace, there can be a disconnect between business strategy and marketing execution, especially when there are multiple partners at play. We’re excited to be joining Marketbridge and moving to a model that brings business consultancy together with marketing execution, to make our Client partnerships even more powerful. With so much shifting in the communications sector, we felt that now is the right time for a new journey for our business and, as part of the Marketbridge platform, we aim to help define the standards for the new dynamics between clients and agencies.”
Fiona Shepherd will step down from her role as Executive Director on MISSION’s Board with immediate effect.
About April Six
April Six is a group of industry specialists making moments that matter for marketers shaping the future.
Specialising in technology and science, it is a full-service integrated agency offering a backbone to growth. April Six’s powerful partnerships help create unique work – unlocking brand distinction while defining, developing, and preparing marketers for whatever comes next.
For more information, visit www.aprilsix.com
About Marketbridge
Marketbridge is a leading integrated growth consulting and marketing services firm that accelerates performance from strategy through execution. With a team of 310 professionals across global locations including Boston, D.C., San Francisco, Seattle, London and Canada, Marketbridge partners with over 150 clients worldwide, including Amazon Web Services, AMD, MetLife, Elevance, Flex and CERN.
For more information, visit www.marketbridge.com
About The MISSION Group
The MISSION Group Plc. is The Brand Performance Group.
Delivering measurable, results-driven campaigns as the preferred creative partner for real business growth. We offer top-tier agencies, strategic specialisms and global reach delivering outstanding performance for brands. We call it Work That Counts™
For more information, visit www.themission.co.uk