Memphis-based experiential agency LEO Events, which produces corporate meetings, festivals and large-scale brand activations, was acquired on Friday, May 1, by the Hoffmann Family of Companies. The hometown firm now joins a family-owned portfolio that has been steadily scooping up businesses across hospitality, transportation and media. Financial terms were not disclosed.
According to the Daily Memphian, LEO confirmed the sale, and the outlet noted that the agency has handled high-profile programs such as Walmart's annual shareholder meeting. The reporting also said LEO employs more than 100 full-time staffers across several Tennessee offices.
Hoffmann, a Naples-based family investment firm, describes itself on its website as a multi-vertical, family-owned company that oversees "22,000+ People in HF Businesses" and more than 400 locations across 30 countries, according to the Hoffmann Family of Companies. The firm's site highlights partnerships with management teams that prioritize customer and employee experience, language that suggests Hoffmann intends to keep operating teams and local leadership in place.
On its "Who We Are" page, LEO identifies itself as woman-owned and lists a team of "100+ full-time employees" with offices in Memphis, Nashville and Chattanooga. The company also touts national clients that include Walmart, AutoZone, Sherwin-Williams and Hilton, per LEO Events.
Hoffmann's Expansion Playbook
Hoffmann has been actively buying travel, transportation and tourism companies in recent years, a strategy that builds operational muscle for large, logistics-heavy events. For example, trade publication Chauffeur Driven reported Hoffmann's 2024 purchase of Dolphin Transportation, among other deals.
What This Means For Memphis
LEO principals Cindy and Kevin Brewer remain listed as part of the leadership team on the company's site, which also highlights community-focused efforts such as the LEO Fellows partnership with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Neither Hoffmann nor LEO has provided immediate details about staffing or operational changes, and the purchase price remains undisclosed, according to the Daily Memphian.
