Strategic communications consultancy Sound Story has acquired The Comms Department, bringing founder Bec Brown into the group as a strategic advisor and expanding the firm’s capabilities across crisis management, executive communications, and organisational change.
The deal
The Comms Department will continue to operate as a standalone brand, with distinct positioning retained by both businesses.
Sound Story remains focused on strategic communications for creative industry clients, while The Comms Department specialises in crisis and issues management, change and transformation, mergers and acquisitions, and executive advisory.
Brown joins managing partners Jake Challenor and Brian Lawlor, alongside senior leaders Jane Elliott, Zanda Wilson, and Jono Harrison, appointed general manager in May.
Why now
The acquisition follows 12 months of collaboration across shared client work. Challenor said growing demand for senior counsel during periods of organisational pressure drove the move.
“The role of communications has fundamentally changed over the last few years, with reputational issues sitting even closer to business strategy. Organisations are navigating more complexity, more scrutiny and faster-moving stakeholder environments than ever before,” said Challenor.
“Bec has built an incredibly respected business with deep expertise across crisis, reputation and executive communications. Bringing that capability to the group strengthens the advice and support we can provide to clients during high-stakes moments.”
Brown said the deal allowed The Comms Department to grow without compromising its character.
“The Comms Department has always done its best work in complex situations where judgement, trust and communication genuinely matter. Joining Sound Story gives us a bigger platform for the next stage of our work, while protecting the relationships, discretion and values that have shaped the business over the past 14 years.”
Lawlor said the move added specialist depth at moments of client need. “The addition of The Comms Department gives us deeper specialist capability in the moments that our clients need calm judgement, experienced advice and practical execution,” he said.
Main image: Bec Brown