FleishmanHillard and its Washington-based Vox Global unit have formed a practice focused on privacy and cybersecurity amid a spate of high-profile hackings and data leaks.

cyberFH president and CEO Dave Senay said the firm envisions a "holistic" approach to addressing digital challenges, including employee communications, crisis PR, legislative and regulatory affairs and cyber preparedness, among other areas.

FH has worked with the US Dept. of Homeland Security's Office of Cybersecurity & Communications for the past five years.

The practice will reside in FH’s crisis management operation under Americas crisis lead Chris Nelson, PA data breach counselor Harry Frazier, reputation management and employee engagement lead Marjorie Benzkofer, data security expert Tim O’Keeffe, and VOX cybersecurity chair Corey Ealons, a former Obama White House spokesman.

Programs will include data breach preparedness and response, privacy protection communications, and public affairs counsel.

Health insurer Anthem has come under withering criticism for its response to a major data breach revealed in February. That followed cyber breaches at Target, Home Depot and JP Morgan Chase last year.

Grayling in 2013 was among the first global PR firms to form a cybersecurity consulting operation.

IBM last month named tech PR veteran Paul Bergevin as its first VP of cybersecurity communications.