Edelman is closing its Russia operation and transferring the business to an affiliate relationship with local shop PRT.
Michael Stewart, who heads Edelman's Europe & CIS unit, said "increasingly difficult" business conditions in Russia spurred the retrenchment move.
Kerry Irwin, head of Edelman's Russian unit, is expected to shift to another post within the independent firm.
Edelman has about 15 staffers in Russia, handling accounts such as Unilever, Bayer and Diageo.
Stewart, who was once director of global communications at McKinsey & Co., is confident RPT's integrated communications capabilities will satisfy the PR needs of Edelman clients seeking representation in Russia.
Despite sanctions imposed by the west on Russia for its annexation of Crimea, Stewart said PR demand in the country remains strong.
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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