• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, April 22, 2019

Tucson-based destination marketing agency Madden Media has reached an agreement with full-service ad shop Burghardt+Doré to join the Madden team. The agreement combines Madden’s performance marketing expertise with the integrated agency focus of B+D.

Technically the agreement is not an acquisition. As Madden CEO Dan James explains, “From a legal standpoint, we actually left the entity [B+D] independent of Madden and brought over their entire team as Madden employees as it was more advantageous to both parties using that approach.”

And Madden is now working with B+D’s current clients including Visit Carmel-By-The-Sea and Lake Havasu in addition to its own, such as Visit Tampa Bay, Explore St. Louis and Wisconsin Office Of Tourism.

The agencies have had a working relationship collaborating on client business for six years. And both of the named B+D partners now take on senior roles at Madden, formed in 1982. Jeff Burghardt is vice president, destination marketing strategy, overseeing creative and integrated client campaigns.

Nicole Doré assumes the role creative strategist and will focus on branding and design.