Michael Huttner, a veteran communications and policy operative, has been named CEO of progressive PR shop Fenton.
He takes the reins previously held by Bill Werde, the former Billboard editor, who served as CEO of Fenton for the past year and half through March.
Founder David Fenton, who sold the firm to investor James Marcus in 2014, continues as chairman focused on projects related to climate change.
Huttner, an attorney and former policy advisor to Colorado Gov. Roy Romer, founded the state-based communications network ProgressNow and led Boulder, Colo.-based policy communications firm Huttner Group.
Fenton said Huttner shares his goals to advance human rights, public health and environmental protection "in his life and work." He added that Huttner will keep the firm focused on public interest campaigns for clients "legitimately working for social change."
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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