Slide Nine

FrazierHeiby rebrands as Slide Nine Agency. The Columbus, OH-based communications and marketing agency, founded in 1983, was acquired in January 2020 by agency president and CEO Lauren Parker, chief operating officer Ann Mulvany and chief experience officer Whitney Somerville. Its offerings include branding and positioning, public relations/earned media, executive thought leadership, social media, and crisis and reputation management. Parker says the new name is a reference to the ninth slide of one of the firm’s winning client proposals, which outlined “our client experience model, specifically how we embrace trust, transparency and tenacity. That concept so perfectly encapsulated what we wanted to convey to the world, it’s now our moniker.”

Gotham Research

Gotham Research Group joins forces with Ballast Research, Hamilton Place Strategies, Flag Media Analytics and alva, a stakeholder intelligence platform, as part of a combination that offers what they say is an industry-leading stakeholder management solution. The addition is being made with the support of Falfurrias Capital Partners, which announced its majority investments in Ballast Research, HPS and alva in summer 2021. Gotham specializes in custom research designed to inform branding/positioning initiatives, advertising campaigns, policy issue campaigns, crisis communications, and digital strategy. “Stakeholder management is becoming increasingly complex, as companies are navigating challenges associated with competitors, customers, employees, investors, governments and industry activists," said FCP senior advisor Alex Jutkowitz, chair of the group. "The strategic growth of our capabilities will allow us to better arm leaders with the insights, metrics, data, and strategy needed to succeed on a global scale."

Bower House

WPP agrees to acquire the business of Bower House Digital, a marketing technology services agency located in Australia. The agency, which designs, builds and deploys digital experiences, will join Ogilvy’s global network. Founded in 2017 by Bryan Dobson and Meg Quinn, it employs approximately 80 people across Australia and the Asia Pacific region. “Bower House Digital’s knowledge in marketing technology will further strengthen our digital expertise in Australia and New Zealand,” said WPP president, Australia and New Zealand Rose Herceg.