 Mark Read |
WPP CEO Mark Read is integrating the ad/PR conglom's specialist health networks into the company’s major agency brands. In the U.S., the Sudler network will combine with VMLY&R to create VMLY&R Health. Ogilvy CommonHealth is combining with Ogilvy to create Ogilvy Health and ghg will join Wunderman as part of Wunderman Health. The integration is expected to be completed in the first half of 2019. J. Walter Thompson and Grey will maintain their existing integrated health offerings. WPP Health & Wellness, which now encompasses WPP’s specialist networks, will be retired, and its CEO, Mike Hudnall, will lead what the company is calling “a new, flexible health practice that better mobilizes WPP’s capabilities.” Hudnall will report to Read.
 Bill McCue |
Bill McCue, former North 6th Agency senior VP has launched his own consultancy, McCuenications PR, and website, www.mccuenicationspr.com. McCue has served as a vice president at Indicate Media Public Relations and has also held executive posts at Chart Room Media and River Communications. He says he launched the firm earlier this year to provide affordable and ROI-driven campaigns on a per-project or monthly retainer basis for companies ranging from startups to enterprise-level organizations. McCuenications PR has already attracted clients in sectors including financial services, financial technology, B2B technology, branding and creative agencies. Over the course of his career, McCue has worked with such companies as AT&T, Ernst & Young Tax Services, JimmyPage.com, IMS Health and Brooklyn Solar Works. Later this year, the firm says it plans to introduce a new service to help startups and small businesses gain Fortune 100-level public relations support and results.
 Michael Murphy |
Prosper Group has appointed Michael Murphy & Ltd as its first international affiliate partner. “The appointment of Michael Murphy and his firm as an international affiliate is the first step in building out our global offering,” said Prosper Group managing partner Alex Halbur. Prosper, formed in 2013 by founding partners Alex Halbur and David Bosses, provides growth and M & A advisory services to more than 50 agencies ranging in size from $1 million to $100 million. Murphy formerly held the CEO spot at Grayling and Trimedia International, as well as serving as CEO, APAC and International at Weber Shandwick.
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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