THE confirms acquisition of The Knowledge Partnership

Times Higher Education has announced the acquisition of higher education consultancy The Knowledge Partnership (TKP), as it continues its transformation into a “powerful global data business”.

TKP provides strategy, marketing and communications consultancy around the world, and is the founder of the World 100 Reputation Network, a professional network for experts managing the reputations of leading global universities.

TKP, founded in 2004 by David Roberts, former chief executive of the Higher Education Information Services Trust (Heist) marketing agency, and Louise Simpson, ex-director of communications at the University of Cambridge, will continue to operate independently under its current name.

The deal will complement THE’s existing in-house consultancy service and comes after THE became a stand-alone business for the first time in March 2019 following its acquisition by private equity firm Inflexion.

THE’s chief executive Paul Howarth said that, despite Covid-19, “THE continues to experience the rapid organic growth it has seen over the past five years of its evolution into a powerful global data business”.

“Now, with the backing of our investors at Inflexion Private Equity, we’re in a position to strengthen our position in the market through strategic acquisitions, like that of TKP. We look forward to working with Louise, David and the wider TKP team to provide an unparalleled global data insight service for higher education,” Mr Howarth said.

TKP’s Ms Simpson said that the two firms “already have a long history of collaboration through research, events and sharing platforms”.

“By bringing our two companies together under the THE brand, we’re able to share our rich depositories of data and experience of the higher education sector to take that relationship to the next level. With our combined expertise, we will provide even deeper insights for universities across the globe,” she said.