Fleishman to Merge LPP Unit

John Isaf

FleishmanHillard today announced that it will merge its LPP operation, the Boston-based healthcare and technology shop formerly known as Lois Paul & Partners, with the Omnicom PR unit’s existing Beantown office.

The combined entity, which is effective immediately, will henceforth operate under the FleishmanHillard banner. The global PR firm reported that a transition team plans to have all talent, systems and operations fully integrated by the end of the year.

The two offices, which have collaborated on a number of projects in recent years, are co-located and will remain at their current address.

LPP was founded in 1986 by Boston PR veteran Lois Paul. The agency, which previously maintained a second office in Austin, TX, was acquired by FH in 2000.

John Isaf, a Weber Shandwick veteran who formerly ran that agency’s Boston corporate practice before moving to FH last year as senior vice president and senior partner, will manage the newly-combined Boston office.

LPP managing director Melissa Zipin, who’s been with that agency since 1998, joins FH as a senior vice president and senior partner and becomes a part of the office’s leadership team.

Isaf told O’Dwyer’s that the newly-combined entity would serve as a leading Boston agency for healthcare, technology, B2B, consumer, higher education and crisis communications.

“The impact of merging the two agencies is very compelling – FleishmanHillard’s Boston office has strengths in working with global clients in specialty areas like media relations, social and innovation, reputation management, creative content, crisis and issue management, coupled with very strong teams across tech, higher ed, consumer and B2B,” Isaf told O’Dwyer’s. “Together with LPP’s heritage and expertise in the healthcare and technology sectors the firm will enhance capabilities and add talent and depth to our client offerings not only in Boston but throughout the FleishmanHillard network.”