BGR Holding, the former Barbour Griffith & Rogers, has acquired Westin Rinehart in an effort to bolster its Democratic outreach.
WR specializes in media relations, advocacy, government affairs, image and brand marketing.
Founder Morris Reid was a key aide to the late Commerce Secretary Ron Brown and ex-Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo, who is now New York's Attorney General. WR president Alexander Cochran also worked for Brown and Cuomo.
Ed Rogers, chairman of BGR and alumnus of the Reagan and Bush I White Houses, called the acquisition “one of the most important milestones in the firm’s 18-year history.”
Michael Meehan is the lead Democrat at BGR. He is former chief of staff to Sen. Maria Cantwell (Wash.) and communications advisor to John Kerry’s presidential run. Meehan also was VP strategy & politics at NARAL Prochoice America and served as communications aide to former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle.
Meehan, who heads BGR’s PR unit, believes the WR acquisition reflects the “evolving political realities in Washington.” |