AIR Acquires Sutton Group

Washington, D.C. — The American Institutes for Research, one of the nation’s largest independent research organizations, announced today that it has acquired Sutton Group, a nationally recognized social marketing and communication firm based in Washington, D.C.

Sutton Group, founded in 1996 by Dr. Sharyn Sutton, a leader in the social marketing and health communications field, specializes in audience research, strategic planning for social change and marketing communication.

“Joining forces with Sutton Group reflects our continuing desire to expand our efforts in the health field to provide research and program services that directly improve people’s lives,” said Sol Pelavin, president and CEO of AIR, a nonprofit social and behavior science research organization.

Dr. Sutton will be a Managing Director of the Communications and Social Marketing group at AIR. “Sutton Group’s expertise helps enhance our efforts to meet the growing demand for social marketing within the government and non-profit sectors,” said Dr. Marilyn Moon, vice president of AIR’s Health Program.

Dr. Sutton directed Sutton Group’s qualitative and quantitative audience research, social marketing, message development, outreach planning and execution, media relations, and website development for a broad range of clients, including: AARP, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, California Obesity Prevention Initiative, W. K. Kellogg Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

 About AIR

The American Institutes for Research, founded in 1946, is a leader in the behavioral and social sciences. AIR is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization engaged in domestic and international research, development, evaluation, analysis, product development, training and technical assistance and assessment.