N.Y. Firm Buys Herring/Newman

Think New Ideas, a national marketing company and Internet- and intranet-systems developer, has ac quired Herring/Newman, one of Seattle's largest marketing and communications firms, for $3 million.

Herring/Newman had been approached in recent years by other, larger public-relations agencies, said Alan Brown, newly named director of strategic planning and business development for Think. Herring/Newman officials found the right fit with Think, Brown said.

"We have a nice close meld with our marketing visions and the cultures of our companies," Brown said.

Herring/Newman, independently owned since 1983, has grown steadily over the years with $55 million in annual billings in 1997. The company serves international clients from Hewlett-Packard to Westin Hotels & Resorts, and local operations such as the Seattle Opera.

Herring/Newman's 60 employees will remain with the company. Brown said the company expects to hire more people by the end of the year.

New York-based Think is known for being an aggressive company, representing high-profile clients, including Fortune 500 companies. That was appealing to Herring/Newman, which wanted to build its national and international presence, Brown said.

Officials at Think, which has offices in major cities including Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta, wanted to tap into the Northwest. "The addition of Herring/Newman allows us to be highly competitive in an important and growing Seattle-based, international market," said Scott Mednick, Think's chairman and chief executive officer.

The biggest change clients will see is a wider range of services, Brown said.