The Martin Group acquires Mr. Smith Agency, expanding creative and digital expertise – The Martin Group
BUFFALO / ROCHESTER / ALBANY / NYC – The Martin Group, an award-winning integrated marketing communications firm headquartered in Buffalo, New York, today announced the acquisition of Mr. Smith Agency, a highly regarded creative, brand strategy, and content studio headquartered in Western New York. The deal further expands The Martin Group’s capabilities across branding, digital marketing, social media, and video and in-house production, while continuing the integrated firm’s growth during the agency’s 25th anniversary year.
As part of the agreement, Mr. Smith will join The Martin Group as a distinct division and brand, with all eight employees—including founder Rob Dimmer and partners Chrissy Pyne and Collin Wittman— joining the firm. Financial terms of the deal, which closed on May 1, 2026, were not publicly disclosed.
Since its founding in 2013, Mr. Smith has earned a reputation as a sought-after creative partner by pushing boundaries and delivering top-tier results for name-brand clients. Mr. Smith’s stature adds to The Martin Group’s proven capabilities in building brands, implementing marketing strategy, and elevating messages for businesses, both regionally and nationally.
Mr. Smith associates will continue working out of their current office location on Washington Street, with plans to move to The Martin Group’s headquarters at 620 Main Street in the future. Mr. Smith clients will continue working with their existing account teams, while gaining access to The Martin Group’s broad capabilities and resources.
“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Mr. Smith to The Martin Group family,” said Matt Davison, chief business officer at The Martin Group. “Our team has long admired the talent, culture, and creative output of Mr. Smith, and we believe the firm will make an incredible addition to our company and the work we do to support clients of all shapes, sizes, and needs. There is immense value in the boutique nature of Mr. Smith and that is why we plan to preserve the brand as a dynamic division and extension of our agency. What that means is little to no experience change for Mr. Smith clients, while at the same time offering up the value-add of our capabilities.”
With the addition of Mr. Smith personnel, The Martin Group now employs 107 associates across a variety of communications and marketing disciplines. The agency utilizes brick-and-mortar office operations in Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, and New York City, and has a remote workforce spread across locations like Cleveland (OH), Dallas (TX), Orlando (FL), Richmond (VA), Savannah (GA), and West Palm Beach (FL). The Martin Group is also a uniquely independent agency, benefiting from a minority ownership investment from the global media and technology giant Hearst Corporation.
“As we contemplated the next chapter of Mr. Smith, it was evident that culture, collaboration, and innovation were the drivers of our business that we most valued. And this opportunity with The Martin Group is really an outcome of that focus. They brought all those drivers to the table and then some — shared standards, values, and commitment, along with a bigger platform and far greater bench depth,” said Rob Dimmer, founder of Mr. Smith. “We’re extremely motivated by what this alignment will do for our team and the brands that have trusted us to be their marketing partners for many years.”
Dimmer will assume the role of vice president and general manager of the newly created Mr. Smith division at The Martin Group, while Pyne and Wittman will continue to lead creative and strategic outputs for the entity.
Founded in 2001, The Martin Group provides research, strategy, analytics, creative, public relations, public affairs, digital marketing, paid media and advertising, and social media solutions to help brands and organizations effectively differentiate and tell their unique stories to the world. Over the past several years, the agency has steadily expanded through organic growth and an acquisition strategy that has included the purchase of Travers Collins & Company, AMDG Public Affairs, Gramercy Communications, and Spiral Design Studio.
Some of The Martin Group’s 200+ active clients include: New Era Cap, M&T Bank, PaintCare, Kaleida Health, ECMC, Wegmans, Tops Markets, Galbani, Sodexo Live!, Rich Products, Phillips Lytle LLP, and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation.
Mr. Smith’s recent clients include: Delaware North, Seagram’s, Labatt USA, Stark Tech, Rich Products, Girl Scouts of Western New York, and the New York Funders Alliance.
About The Martin Group
The Martin Group is a leading integrated communications firm headquartered in downtown Buffalo with operations in Albany, Rochester, and New York, NY. The firm works with best-in-class organizations ranging from small businesses to global enterprises and has extensive experience in several industry verticals, including food and beverage, sports and lifestyle, healthcare, financial services, education, professional services, and not-for-profit support. Continually recognized for marketing communications excellence by the American Advertising Federation, the American Marketing Association, the Public Relations Society of America, and the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts, among others, the agency has been previously selected as a “Top Private Company” and “Fastest Growing Company” by various regional news publications. For more information on The Martin Group, visit www.martingroup.co, or follow the agency on Instagram @martingroupco.
