LEO Events joins Hoffmann Family of Companies as revenue nears $150M
What's the deal? LEO Events, a Memphis-based experiential agency with annual revenue approaching $150M, has agreed to join the Hoffmann Family of Companies, a US-based family equity firm. The deal, effective immediately, was facilitated by PricewaterhouseCoopers Corporate Finance LLC after a competitive evaluation process.
LEO will keep its brand, leadership structure, and offices in Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, and Asheville, North Carolina, along with its 100-plus employees. Founders Cindy Brewer, Kevin Brewer, and Kent Underwood retain minority ownership, with Kevin Brewer and Underwood continuing as co-chief executive officers.
Why now? LEO has hit a growth inflection point. Since 2012, the firm has posted 770% revenue growth and 550% employee growth. It was recently named to Chief Marketer's Agencies of the Year 2026 and Event Marketer's Top 100 IT List for the tenth consecutive year.
For Hoffmann Family of Companies, LEO slots into its Hospitality & Entertainment vertical alongside existing events-focused holdings like Colorado-based RMC and Southwest Florida-headquartered GlobalWorks.
What could go wrong? Culture clashes between founder-led agencies and private equity owners are common. LEO's leadership has stressed that values and culture won't change — a promise easier to make than to keep as new resources and growth targets enter the picture.
Retaining the founders with minority stakes mitigates some risk, but the shift from independent ownership to a portfolio company inevitably reshapes incentives and decision-making over time.
The signal: The deal reflects a broader trend of family equity and private equity firms rolling up experiential marketing agencies. Live events and immersive brand experiences have surged in value post-pandemic, making scaled operators attractive acquisition targets. LEO's near-$150M revenue run rate shows just how large the experiential sector has grown — and how consolidation is accelerating to meet client demand for end-to-end event capabilities.
Read more: leoevents.com
