Mission North (Bateman Group): San Francisco PR Agency

Mission North is a San Francisco strategic communications agency founded in 2003 as Bateman Group. It rebranded in February 2020, when founder Fred Bateman sold his majority stake to partners Bill Bourdon, Tyler Perry and Shannon Hutto, per PRovoke Media. Bourdon and Perry became co-CEOs. PRovoke reported $16.5 million in 2019 revenue, up 15 percent, and roughly 80 employees, and CB Insights describes the firm as a benefit corporation.

Originally published June 2026. Updated October 18, 2026.

How did Bateman Group become Mission North?

PRovoke Media reported on February 3, 2020 that, seventeen years after launching Bateman Group, Fred Bateman was departing as CEO and the firm would operate as Mission North. Bateman sold his majority stake to his partners and planned to return to independent consulting. In the announcement Bateman said he was proud of the impact made since he founded Bateman Group in 2003 and said the succession was natural because he had built a solid leadership bench. The announcement said the firm finished 2019 with 15 percent year-over-year revenue growth.

Date	Event	Source
2003	Fred Bateman founds Bateman Group	PRovoke Media
2019	Revenue reaches $16.5 million, up 15 percent	PRovoke Media
February 3, 2020	Rebrands as Mission North; Bateman sells majority stake	PRovoke Media
January 2023	Nicole Messier reported as president and Shannon Hutto as chief client officer	PRovoke Media

Who leads Mission North?

Bourdon and Perry were named co-CEOs in 2020 and lead the agency with Hutto. PRovoke Media said the company appointed three new executives: Nicole Messier, executive VP and general manager of the East Coast, Gillian Davis, head of people, and Michael Andrews, CFO. In January 2023 PRovoke reported that Messier was promoted to president reporting to Perry, that Hutto became chief client officer, and that Meghan Gardner became executive vice president and West Coast general manager. CB Insights lists Tyler Perry as co-CEO.

Executive	Role	Source
Bill Bourdon	Co-CEO since February 2020	PRovoke Media
Tyler Perry	Co-CEO since February 2020	PRovoke Media; CB Insights
Shannon Hutto	Co-owner; general manager of West Coast operations (2020); chief client officer (2023)	PRovoke Media
Nicole Messier	EVP and East Coast GM (2020); president (2023)	PRovoke Media

Who owns Mission North?

PRovoke Media says Bateman sold his majority stake to his partners in 2020, and the rebrand announcement calls Bourdon and Perry longtime co-owners alongside Hutto. CB Insights describes the firm as a benefit corporation recognized for social impact through its work and community investments.

What does Mission North do?

The rebrand announcement says the agency combines PR, digital marketing and social media to drive campaigns across earned, owned and paid media, for companies it calls the ones shaping our future. PRovoke Media said fintech grew 147 percent and life sciences 75 percent in 2019, the biggest growth drivers. CB Insights says it develops narratives about innovations and movements to affect market value and corporate reputation. EPR's technology PR and California PR pages cover the categories.

Which clients has Mission North worked with?

PRovoke Media named Ginkgo Bioworks, Google, Honey, LinkedIn and Expensify in February 2020. The rebrand announcement said new 2019 clients included Expensify, Flatiron School and Zeus Living, and that the firm expanded partnerships with Betterment, Ginkgo Bioworks, Google and LinkedIn. These are 2020 statements, not a current roster.

How does Mission North compare with other tech PR firms?

Peers with EPR profiles include Highwire, InkHouse, Method Communications, LaunchSquad, Blanc & Otus, Clarity Global, Bospar and Diffusion PR. EPR's San Francisco PR firms directory lists more.

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