 Amy Venhuizen |
Spurrier Group has created a media intelligence specialty team as part of a general restructuring of the firm. The focus of the new team will be on gaining a deep knowledge of each available media channel and then sharing that intelligence internally with clients as well as creative agencies that the firm partners with. “This team is no longer burdened by the details and demands of client servicing,” said Spurrier Group founder and CEO Donna Spurrier. “Now the are able to specialize and be more forward-thinking about media intelligence.” The agency has hired three new staffers to be part of the team: senior project manager/account director Amy Venhuizen, who was previously owner and president of V Media Services; senior media buyer Sarah Knapp, who comes to Spurrier from Elephant Insurance, where she was also senior media buyer; and operations manager Kristina Williams, who was previously operations manager at Goodwill Industries.
 Emma Gielata |
Matter Communications has opened an office in Pittsburgh, the agency’s sixth U.S. location. The expansion into Pittsburgh is intended to make the agency more accessible to brands in the area’s tech scene. Matter Pittsburgh will be led by newly appointed account director and Pittsburgh native Emma (Walter) Gielata, who comes to the firm from computer software company First Insight, where she was marketing manager. Before that, she was at Matter for five years. “Pittsburgh is in the midst of an economic renaissance with up-and-coming companies focusing on artificial intelligence, robotics and biomedical devices,” said Scott Signore, CEO of Matter. Matter’s other offices are in Boston and Newburyport, MA; Providence, RI; Boulder, CO and Portland, OR.
 |
Digital communications company Investis has rebranded to Investis Digital, following its acquisition and integration of ZOG Digital. Investis Digital’s new brand platform has been rolled out across its redesigned global website, and its expanded suite of services is being utilized for agency clients including Ascential, ASOS, Fruit of the Loom, Rolls-Royce, WWE and Wyndham. By layering the performance marketing expertise of ZOG Digital over its technology solutions and strength in communications, the combined company says it is now uniquely positioned to meet and exceed the needs of marketers, investor relations practitioners and corporate communicators.
4media group completes its acquisition of Family Features Editorial Syndicate... Illumination PR, which represents lifestyle brands, influencers and celebrities, launches DR Media Group... EAG Advertising and Marketing acquires pay-for-performance firm INK inc. Public Relations. 
LLYC launches Signs of Pride, a campaign that revives the original protest banners of the first Pride marches... The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry forms the Public Relations and Digital Marketing Working Group... Circle of One Marketing, a Miami-based, minority-owned marketing agency, is named official agency of record for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami. 
Vogel Group, a DC-headquartered government affairs and consulting firm, forms a strategic partnership with Montreal-based public affairs firm Boléro Stratégies... Matter Communications launches project-based offerings for B2C companies looking to increase brand awareness and visibility... Tucker/Hall, a Tampa-based PR and public affairs firm, opens a new office in Orlando. 
Why investing in public relations is ultimately about building bridges in a connected world.
Edelman is laying off 330 people (5.3 percent of its workforce) to cope with an anticipated eight percent shortfall in 2024 US revenues, and client demand for one-stop shopping for speciality services.
