Padilla: Minneapolis PR Agency Founded 1961, Avenir-Owned

Padilla is a Minneapolis public relations and communications agency founded in 1961 as Padilla Speer Beardsley. AVENIR GLOBAL, a Montreal-based holding company, acquired it on August 1, 2018, when it reported US$40 million in annual revenue and 210 employees in six U.S. offices. Matt Kucharski became president and leads day-to-day operations, while Lynn Casey, CEO since 2001, became chair, per AVENIR GLOBAL's release and O'Dwyer's.

Originally published June 2026. Updated October 17, 2026.

How did Padilla get its name and structure?

O'Dwyer's reported that the agency was founded in 1961 as Padilla Speer Beardsley, merged with Richmond-based CRT/tanaka in 2013 to become PadillaCRT, and dropped the CRT suffix in 2017. The Holmes Report said it also acquired INM United in 2017 and FoodMinds in 2016, and Twin Cities Business said it owns the Joe Smith brand consultancy and the research firm SMS Research Advisors.

Who owns Padilla?

AVENIR GLOBAL announced on August 1, 2018 that it had acquired Padilla, calling it a top 10 independent PR firm, and said Padilla was an AVENIR GLOBAL company. Casey told O'Dwyer's the firm liked AVENIR GLOBAL's philosophy of letting agencies operate with a fair degree of independence, and told Twin Cities Business that Padilla was not up for sale before the deal.

Who leads Padilla?

The 2018 announcement said Casey, who had been CEO since 2001, moved to chair as Kucharski, who joined in 1989, led the agency as president, with both reporting to AVENIR GLOBAL's president and CEO Jean-Pierre Vasseur. O'Dwyer's directory lists Kucharski as president.

How does Padilla compare with other Minnesota and regional PR firms?

EPR's Minnesota PR firms page covers the regional market. Peers outside the coasts include Walker Sands, PAN Communications and Coyne PR.

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