• by Larissa Faw , April 2, 2020

Four long-time employees are purchasing independent advertising and marketing agency Kelliher Samets Volk (KSV) after four decades under the same ownership. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Although these new leaders admit they have “poor timing,” there was no impact from the current COVID-19 crisis. “We had planned to announce this great news to the agency with an in-person celebration,” says Erin Fagnant, managing director, KSV. “But of course given the timing, plans had to be adjusted a bit. Champagne was secretly delivered to the doorstep of every employee the morning of the announcement, and the news was shared over a virtual happy hour.”

After several past ownership transitions faltered or fell apart over the years, agency founders Linda Kelliher and Yoram Samets found the right fit with this new leadership team comprised of managing director Fagnant, Chief Creative Officer Kevin Willard, Chief Strategy Officer Tucker Wright and director of client services Rachel Gage. “It just felt like a natural next step,” explains Fagnant.

KSV has 20 employees in Burlington, VT and New York City. Founded in 1977, the agency’s client roster includes both national and regional brands including Seventh Generation, Ben & Jerry’s, Pete & Gerry’s, National Grid, Mass Save, and U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants.