Newest acquisition strengthens family office's hospitality and entertainment platform
CHICAGO/MEMPHIS (May 1, 2026) – Hoffmann Family of Companies (“HF Companies”), a family-owned private equity firm based in the United States, is pleased to announce the acquisition of LEO Events (“LEO”), a leading event agency serving the experiential industry.
Founded in 2012, LEO Events has grown from a boutique firm in Memphis, Tennessee, into one of the top event agencies in North America. The company is known for its fresh, fearless creativity, inventive execution, and deeply collaborative approach, delivering high-impact experiential events for some of the world’s most recognizable brands, executives, and organizations. Today, the agency employs more than 100 full-time professionals, operates nationwide, and maintains key offices in Memphis, Nashville, and Chattanooga, Tennessee, along with a presence in Asheville, North Carolina.
Principals Cindy Brewer, Kent Underwood, and Kevin Brewer will retain minority equity interest, and Kent Underwood and Kevin Brewer will lead day-to-day operations as Co-CEOs.
“After more than 13 years of building LEO alongside my co-founders, I know there’s no better partner than Hoffmann Family of Companies to take us to the next level,” said Cindy Brewer. “We’re confident this partnership will accelerate our growth while preserving the culture and creativity that define who we are.”
“Cindy, Kevin, Kent, and their team have built a remarkable company with an exceptional reputation for creativity, execution, and client service,” said Geoff Hoffmann, CEO of HF Companies’ private equity arm. “LEO expands our footprint into new geographies and brings new, premier capabilities we’ve been seeking for our portfolio. We’re thrilled about what we can accomplish together.”
“This is an exciting moment for us as entrepreneurs – and for our entire team,” added Kent Underwood. “With Hoffmann Family of Companies as our partner, we remain focused on our clients, our people, and the culture that makes LEO truly special.”
LEO scales a full suite of services—including Strategy, Creative, Design, Experiential, Entertainment, Meetings, Technology, Operations, Festivals & Public Events, and Activations—to deliver top-tier programs for clients such as AutoZone, Domino’s, Hilton, MassMutual, PGA of America, Sherwin-Williams, and Walmart. Beyond client work, LEO is committed to employee, industry, and community engagement in many ways, including its LEO Gives initiative, which supports communities through volunteering, in-kind contributions, and partnerships, and its LEO Fellows talent development program with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
With the addition of LEO, HF Companies continues to grow and elevate its Hospitality & Entertainment vertical, particularly building on the success of other events-focused holdings such as Colorado-based RMC and Southwest Florida–headquartered GlobalWorks. This strategic expansion reinforces the firm’s commitment to setting a new standard for immersive, full-service experiential offerings.
PricewaterhouseCoopers Corporate Finance LLC served as financial advisor to LEO Events, LLC.
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About Hoffmann Family of Companies:
Hoffmann Family of Companies is a multi-vertical, family-owned private equity firm consisting of more than 200 brands, employing more than 26,000 employees with businesses located in 30 countries and 400 locations around the world. Hoffmann Family of Companies’ verticals include Agriculture, Aviation & Transportation, Financial & Professional Services, Hospitality & Entertainment, Manufacturing, Marine, Media & Marketing and Real Estate. For more information, visit HFCompanies.com.
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