Encore has announced the acquisition of FIRST, the global event marketing and brand experience agency, in a move that significantly expands its international footprint and strengthens its in-venue and outsourced event services.
The deal brings FIRST’s embedded corporate campus model into Encore’s portfolio. FIRST currently supports more than 15,000 events a year and is known for supplying dedicated on-site teams for major organisations across technology, finance and professional services.
Ben Erwin, president and CEO of Encore, said the combination will enable the business to deliver greater value across all event formats and locations.
“The FIRST embedded corporate campus team model and strong customer relationships across technology, financial and professional services are a complement to Encore’s global event production capabilities,” he said. “Together, with their talented team of senior leaders and industry experts, we’ll deliver even more value to customers - on-site, off-site, and anywhere events are held.”
With offices in New York, London and Singapore, FIRST brings a 30-year legacy in global brand experiences and nearly 15 years of expertise in outsourced event delivery models. Its teams specialise in scalable solutions for corporate hubs as well as project-based planning and production.
The acquisition integrates FIRST’s 800-strong workforce into Encore’s global network, which spans more than 2,200 partner venues and 21 countries. The company said the move enhances its ability to support clients across North America, EMEA and APAC, combining in-venue technical production with agency-level strategy, creative and delivery.
Maureen Ryan Fable, CEO of FIRST, said joining Encore will allow the agency to broaden its reach while continuing to embed closely with client organisations.
“Our team’s ability to integrate seamlessly into a customer’s culture ensures every event feels authentic to each organisation’s brand,” she said. “Combined with Encore’s global reach and resources, we are poised to continue delivering exceptional experiences, through both embedded teams and project-based event design and delivery, for our partners to make sure their visions shine.”
Encore, headquartered in Illinois, is one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® in 2025 and supports thousands of meetings and events each year. FIRST, based in New York, also operates across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.
