The Global Communications Alliance network of firms has launched with 10 members with market coverage in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
Agenda Global PA shop in Washington represents this country.
Doug Turner, founding partner of Agenda, said GCA will provide clients "world class service and on the ground intelligence and capacity wherever they do business."
He was campaign manager for former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson and deputy political director for Steve Forbes' 2000 presidential bid.
Turner said many GCA members have worked with each other in the past and the new organization is a way to formalize those ties.
Joining Agenda as GAA members are Affaires Publiques Consultants (France & Belgium), Bluesky Strategy Group (Canada), Ethicore (South Africa), IMG Events & PR (Kenya), Navos (Germany), PLMR (UK), Wilkinson Group (Australia), Wit Communicatie (Holland) and YoungNetwork Group (Dubai, Portugal, Angola and Mozambique).
London-based PLMR will manage the alliance for the first year. Leadership is to rotate.
DJE Holdings, parent of Edelman and Zeno, launches RUTH as an independent shop named after Ruth Edelman, mental health advocate, wife and longtime business partner of Dan Edelman.
New York City PR firms make up the largest slice of O'Dwyer's 147 firm overall ranking with 33 of 40 in the New York/New Jersey area either calling Manhattan their home or having a presence there.
Subject Matter+Kivvit, which joined forces in May, has rebranded as Avoq, an integrated shop with more than 200 professionals in Washington, New York, Asbury Park (NJ), Miami and Chicago.
While PR pros stationed at in-house comms. teams and those working for agencies share many of the same objectives, they also have markedly different top priorities, according to a recent report.
Edelman is cutting 240 employees or about four percent of its workforce to cope with the cooling down of the PR sector, according to a memo from CEO Richard Edelman.
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