Private equity firm Providence Equity Partners has acquired a majority stake in DoubleVerify, a digital media measurement software and analytics company. The terms of the deal were undisclosed, though reports suggest Providence invested around $200m (£156m).

The investment will see former Publicis Groupe CRO and former CEO of Starcom MediaVest Group Laura Desmond appointed as lead director of the DoubleVerify board. The DoubleVerify management team will remain in place under the direction of its CEO and president Wayne Gattinella.  

“Providence Equity has a demonstrated ability to partner with unique data companies to realize accelerated growth and customer adoption,” said Gattinella. “With Providences sector expertise and strategic insight, DoubleVerify is well positioned to capitalise on the outsized set of market opportunities and to launch new services that define the future of digital advertising engagement.”

DoubleVerify, founded in 2008, provides marketers, agencies, ad networks, DSPs, exchanges and publishers with media verification and campaign effectiveness solutions. The New York-headquartered firm’s last investment happened back in 2011 when it picked up $33m in VC round led by Institutional Venture Partners (IVP) and JMI Equity.