New York Area

avocadosKetchum, New York/Avocados from Mexico, newly formed combine of the Mexican Hass Avocado Imports Assn. and the Mexican Avocado Producers and Packers, as AOR for PR, following a review.

AFM also tapped Havas' Arnold Worldwide as integrated AOR. Ketchum previously worked with the MHAIA.

Former U.S. Potato Board CEO Tim O'Conner took the reins of AFM earlier this year. In a statement, he called the review an "intense process" that started with 52 proposals and ended with 11 presenting firms. Mexico supplies about 60 percent of avocados consumed in the U.S. CRT/tanaka has previously worked with AFM.

Padilla Speer Beardsley, New York/AIRBAC, a new backpack company aimed to relieve the stress and weight of heavy bags, for PR for the product and brand, including message development, media relations, events and social media. Greg Tarmin heads the Minneapolis-based firm's New York outpost, which also serves national client Coppertone.

The Brandman Agency, New York/Tourism Council of Bhutan, for PR focused on the North American market.

M&C Saatchi, New York/Ubersence, video analysis apps for sports coaches and athletes, for PR.

Blink PR, New York/Paulaandchlo.com, handbags, shoes, jewelry and cosmetics collection, for PR.

KTCpr, New York/The Society of American Travel Writers, which includes more than 1,100 writers and PR pros, to increase the Society's profile within the travel and tourism industry, following an RFP process. Fourteen proposals were submitted for the account and six finalists pitched.

East

Calypso Communications, Portsmouth, N.H./Detroit Renewable Energy, consortium of renewable energy assets including a 68-megawatt municipal waste-fired power plant, for PR and marketing. Calysto handles PR, media outreach, crisis management, community engagement and creative.

PAN Communications, Boston/Bandwidth, telecommunications, as AOR for its corporate and wholesale & enterprise divisions.

Southeast

República, Miami/Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, for a national bilingual campaign focused on creating an advocacy movement to raise awareness for family literacy, including advertising, media, branding, digital, PR and social media.

Midwest

Hanser & Associates, Des Moines/Coach USA/Megabus.com, for PR and marketing communication in North America, following an RFP among eight firms. H&A was the eight-year incumbent for megabus.com. Media relations, social media, events, and advertising are in the scope of work.

Southwest

The Abbi Agency, Reno, Nev./HomeAdvisor, online destination for home repair and improvement, for PR, including new product launches, positioning spokespeople, and social media campaigns.

West

JMPR, Woodland Hills, Calif./Stack's Bowers Galleries, numismatic (currency) auction and retail company, as AOR, including media outreach beyond the coin-collecting world.

International – Mideast

Iris PR, Dubai/Glion Institute of Higher Education and Les Roches International School of Hotel Management, both based in Switzerland. The firm also picked up auto maintenance brand Zdegree for launch of the region’s first dedicated tire portal, American College of Dubai, and healthcare company Carefusion.

Asia-Pacific

PPR, Syndney/Zumba Fitness, dance-fitness program, for PR in Australia and New Zealand, following a competitive pitch.