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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Anthology now largest marketing firm in state

Advertiser Staff

A deal by Hawai'i marketing firm McNeil Wilson Communications Inc. and its advertising affiliate to acquire competitor Starr Seigle Communications Inc. has been completed.

McNeil Wilson and its sister firm, Laird Christianson Advertising, announced in March that they had reached an agreement to purchase Star Seigle. Details of the acquisition were not released.

With the acquisition, a new holding company, Anthology Marketing Group Inc., was created and will oversee four subsidiaries: McNeil Wilson Communications, Laird Christianson Advertising, QMark Research and StarrTech Interactive. Starr Seigle Advertising has been absorbed into Laird Christianson Advertising, and StarrPR has been incorporated into McNeil Wilson. Tapestry Interactive, a former division of Laird Christianson, is now part of StarrTech.

Combined, the divisions of the new Anthology Marketing Group have 140 employees and annual gross capitalized billings of more than $90 million, making it the largest marketing conglomerate in the state.

"While the Starr Seigle brand will be gone, its excellence in advertising, research and interactive marketing will continue and fit perfectly in our business model," said Laird Christianson, Anthology Marketing Group chief executive officer.

In addition to Christianson, the new principals of Anthology Marketing Group are: David McNeil, David Wilson, Buck Laird, David Koch, Phil Wood, Barbara Ankersmit, Noelle Baker and Mary Fastenau.

Among Anthology Marketing's clients are Marriott International, Hawaiian Airlines, Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau, American Savings Bank, Kaiser Permanente, Sony Hawai'i, Hawai'i Superferry and Kaua'i Visitors Bureau.