Senior managers at travel and tourism specialist KBC PR & Marketing have acquired an 80% shareholding in the business.
Managing director Chris Woodbridge-Cox, director of trade representation Lisa Cooper, director of PR David Ezra, and financial controller Lynn Lashbrook join Kate Burgess-Craddy (pictured here) as owners of the Sussex-based company.
The move comes after several rival travel PR businesses, including London-based Brighter Group and Hills Balfour, were purchased by US companies.
"We all agreed that the next phase in KBC’s development should not be built around being taken over by a major overseas player," said Woodbridge-Cox.
"Our clients place great value on the team, the relationships we build with them, and the customised but professional service we give them. We did not want to risk compromising that by having KBC subject to external priorities and targets. There’s no reason at all why that model shouldn’t be successful, but we just don’t think it’s right for KBC.
"It’s ‘business as usual’ and we are all very excited about the future".
Burgess-Craddy, who founded the company in 1998, added: "Having created and then steadily grown KBC over the past 20 years, I’m now so happy to be able to give the senior team a chance to participate in the ownership of the company."
Current clients include Destination British Columbia, Destination DC & the Capital Region USA, Explore Georgia, The Great American West, the Florida Keys & Key West, the Leisure Pass Group, Loews Hotels, Travel Alberta, the US Travel Association, Utah Office of Tourism and the Virginia Tourism Corporation.
