Noble Communications sells to Pittsburgh company

Noble Communications Co., a marketing agency founded in Springfield in 1969, today announced the sale of part of its operations to Pittsburgh-based Gatesman Inc.

Through the deal, Gatesman acquired all of Noble’s clients in the home and building, insurance, banking, financial, health care and education industries, along with the staff and second-floor Chesterfield Village office space associated with those projects. Leadership at Gatesman will remain the same, with John Gatesman as CEO and Shannon Baker as president. Terms were not disclosed.

The sale does not include the food-focused portions of the company – including Noble Food Marketing and Food Channel Productions LLC – which are located on the first floor. Founder Bob Noble will remain chairman of those entities.

John Scroggins of Food Channel Productions said all employees of Noble and Gatesman will remain where they are, but under a new ownership structure.

In a news release, Gatesman said it would grow revenue potential by nearly 50 percent with the acquisition and increase its staff to 125 people.

“The cultures of Gatesman and Noble are very compatible – with respect for insights and analytics to drive creative and quality work,” Noble said in the release. “I really admire what John and Shannon have built, and the combined agency’s future is in great hands with Gatesman. It’s a great fit and will mean additional support with expanded capabilities for the clients and for future new business.”