By Kevin McCauley
Hill & Knowlton has announced it is merging with powerhouse sister WPP lobbying shop, Public Strategies Inc., a government relations firm with 175 staffers in Austin, Dallas, Mexico City and Washington, D.C.
Jack Martin, founder and chairman of PSI, becomes executive chairman of the combined entity that springs to life on Jan. 1.
H&K CEO Paul Taafe assumes the global CEO slot, while PSI CEO Dan Bartlett, a former counselor to George W. Bush, becomes CEO of H&K USA and remains at the helm of PSI.
Martin says the merger provides PSI an opportunity to expand on the global stage and a “premier platform to showcase its leadership.”
Each firm will retain its brand for the immediate future in the operation with 2,300 staffers in 44 countries.
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