Lippincott Acquires Athletics to Scale AI and Creative Technology
Lippincott has entered into an agreement to acquire the New York-based brand and innovation studio Athletics, signaling a push to merge high-level business strategy with rapid digital prototyping. The deal, scheduled to close November 2, 2026, will integrate Athletics’ proprietary AI software, Sesame, into the consultancy’s global service offerings.
The acquisition bridges the gap between Lippincott’s long-standing strategic rigor and the experimental, maker-focused culture of Athletics. By adding the 25-person studio to its roster, Lippincott aims to accelerate the transition for its clients from abstract brand strategy to tangible, AI-powered digital activations. Athletics has previously built its reputation on multidisciplinary design work for clients including IBM, Google, and Amazon.
Michael D'Esopo, CEO of Lippincott, noted that the move addresses the growing demand for brands to maintain coherence across complex digital ecosystems. For his part, Athletics CEO Jameson Proctor emphasized that the studio’s internal focus on prototyping will find a broader platform within Lippincott’s global operations. Post-acquisition, the Athletics team will continue to operate out of its existing Brooklyn offices, maintaining the studio’s independent spirit while leveraging the consultancy’s scale.
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