Civitta, a management and digital consultancy headquartered in Estonia and Lithuania, has announced the strategic acquisition of J.E. Austin Associates (JAA), an Arlington, Virginia-based company with 39 years of experience in strategy consulting and implementation of economic development projects. This marks Civitta’s second major acquisition in the last month, following the recent merger with Armenian IT firm HackTech. J.E. Austin joining the Civitta marks a significant global expansion for the Civitta Group, timed to capitalize on major reorganizations within U.S. foreign aid programs. The move provides Civitta with a direct foothold in the world’s largest consulting market and a platform to enter global development aid markets.
Deal at a glance
Merger-Acquisition: Civitta (Headquartered in Estonia and Lithuania; operating in 22 countries, 2024 turnover of 48 M Euro and J.E. Austin Associates (JAA) (Arlington, VA, 2024 turnover of 8M Dollars)
Strategic Goal: Entry into the U.S. market and the global development sector, expanding Civitta’s reach beyond its home markets in Central and Eastern Europe.
Combined Strength: The acquisition unites Civitta’s 700+ experts with JAA’s seasoned team, expanding the group’s global project footprint.
“This is not just a market entry; it’s an acquisition of a world-class strategic legacy and intellectual capital,” said Ander Ojandu, a Partner and Co-Founder at Civitta.
“With the ongoing reorganization in the development industry, there is a clear demand for more agile and accountable partners. By combining JAA’s academic foundation, shaped by Harvard Professor Dr. James Austin and enriched by their association with Professor Michael Porter, the Civitta-JE Austin team is in a position to offer quality solutions to emerging markets – not only the countries in the immediate EU periphery – but also Africa, Asia and Latin America.“
The merger was underpinned by a strong values alignment between the two firms. For more than 39 years, J.E. Austin Associates (JAA) has been a key player in U.S. corporate and government private sector development projects, specializing in enhancing industry competitiveness and government policies.
By combining their strengths, Civitta and JAA aim to advance their shared mission: empowering local talent in Eastern Europe while leveraging world-class expertise to tackle pressing development challenges globally. This collaboration not only strengthens their ability to support regional growth but also creates opportunities to export Eastern Europe’s experience to emerging markets in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
“This partnership felt like a natural fit from the very beginning. Beyond the strategic rationale, we discovered a strong alignment in our core values,” said Joe Lowther, President at J.E. Austin Associates, who will continue in a Partner role at Civitta.
“Both our firms are deeply committed to helping local societies thrive. For our team, joining Civitta means we can continue this mission while also gaining the opportunity to work on a broader range of impactful international projects. It’s a win for both our clients and our people.”
About the companies
Civitta
A management and digital consultancy originated and headquartered in Estonia and Lithuania. Civitta has challenged the traditional consultancy model with a lean and collaboration focused business model, growing into a leading management consulting firm in Central and Eastern Europe. With over 700 experts across more than 20 countries, Civitta delivers a full range of consulting and digital services to private and public sector clients, including strategy, innovation, financing, digital transformation, research, digital marketing, software development, design, and creative solutions. The company is focused on making its services more accessible in developing markets beyond Eastern Europe and including markets in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
J.E. Austin Associates
Founded in 1986, J.E. Austin Associates (JAA) is a U.S.-based firm specializing in private sector development. Its team has delivered approximately 700 projects in 123 countries, across 43 economic sectors, focusing on creating economic opportunities, strengthening industries, and improving business environments. The firm has played a pivotal role in advancing competitiveness at the national, industry, and firm level with industry expertise in agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism.
