Rakuten Advertising’s Performance Solutions Group Acquired by Brunner

Brunner announced its acquisition of Rakuten Advertising’s Performance Solutions group Monday.

The integrated marketing agency, will inherit the Performance Solutions group’s paid search, programmatic planning, and buying teams as part of the deal.

“We are thrilled to welcome the talented team from Rakuten Advertising’s Performance Solutions group to Brunner,” said Dan Gbur, partner and chief revenue officer at Brunner, in a statement. “With this acquisition, we will immediately begin integrating their expertise with our existing capabilities, so we are poised to deliver even greater value to our clients.”

Brunner will now be able to expand its digital media, data engineering, and data science capabilities and grow its client roster in the retail and ecommerce industries.

In addition to the acquisition, the Pittsburgh- and Atlanta-based agency becomes Rakuten’s performance solutions partner. It will continue to provide digital media services to its clients and extend affiliate marketing opportunities to clients using Rakuten’s platforms.

Karen Chu, vice president of corporate development at Rakuten Advertising, said in a statement that during a meeting with the team from Brunner, they knew it would be the “right fit.” 

She added, “Culturally, our Performance Solutions group and existing clients would have a smooth transition, which was our No. 1 priority.” 

Chu said partnering with Brunner enables Rakuten Advertising to expand its opportunities to support its affiliate clients with a broader range of services. 

“Our ongoing relationship with Brunner will allow us to leverage their extensive resources and industry knowledge, ultimately benefiting our clients with enhanced marketing strategies and execution,” she added.