All Things D [3] is reporting that Salesforce and Buddy Media are close to a deal that would have the former acquire the latter for $800 million. Buddy Media (one of Fast Company's 10 Most Innovative Companies in Advertising for 2012 [4]) manages campaigns on Facebook (and more recently, on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+) for some of the world's top brands, including Ford, Hanes, and ESPN. Founded a little over four years ago by Michael Lazerow [5], the company has raised $90 million in venture funding from the likes of Peter Thiel, Ron Conway, and Institutional Venture Partners. All Things D reports that the company decided to go with Salesforce over a competing bid from Google. The news comes just two months after former Salesforce sales exec Susan St. Ledger joined Buddy Media [6] as the company's new president.

See also: Buddy Media's Michael Lazerow Makes People (Actually) Like Your Facebook Page [5]

 

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