 Barbara Bates |
Hotwire has formed an exclusive partnership with The Hoffman Agency to collaborate in Asia. The agreement will see Hotwire work with The Hoffman Agency’s wholly owned offices in Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Indonesia as part of its global network of offices and exclusive partners. By consolidating Hotwire’s current multi-agency solution in Asia down to one firm, Hotwire Group CEO Barbara Bates says the agency will further strengthen its credentials as an alternative to the established global owned networks. Hotwire operates through 11 wholly owned offices across North America, Europe and Australia and supports this with a network of exclusive partners and affiliates in another 21 cities worldwide, including the locations represented by The Hoffman Agency.
 Charles Lewington |
Montreal-based holding and management company Avenir Global has acquired Hanover, an independent U.K. public relations consultancy with offices in London, Brussels, Dublin, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Founded in London in 1998 by CEO Charles Lewington, Hanover advises global companies on building recognition and enhancing reputation. The Hanover Group also includes creative communications agency The Playbook, and Multiple, a brand and culture consultancy. The agency’s leadership team will remain in place following the transaction. Together with the November 2018 acquisition of London-based healthcare creative agency, Cherry, the deal bolsters AVENIR GLOBAL’s EMEA offering. The group was already represented in the region by healthcare communications firm AXON Communications and by its strategic communications consultancy Madano Partnership.
 Dan Pender |
PR360, a Dublin-based communications agency, is the newest addition to global partnership PROI Worldwide. Founded in 2011 by managing director Dan Pender, PR360 has corporate, public affairs and brand practices as well as an in-house digital content studio. The agency works with clients in the healthcare, aviation, finance, professional services, and technology sectors in Ireland and internationally. “PR360 is an exceptional communications agency which, like our other PROI agencies, has seen significant growth opportunities by offering integrated services,” says PROI Worldwide global chairman Clare Parsons, chair of London-based Lansons.
 Ryan Hallett, Whitney Creighton |
CEO Ryan Hallett and CSO Whitney Creighton have launched Otto & Friends, a new brand-amplifying agency. Hallett was formerly a vice president at WPP’s Grey and Creighton previously served as associate director of content & community Omnicom's Serino Coyne. Claudia Strauss, former CEO of Grey’s activation and PR practice, is also working with Otto & Friends as a marketing advisor. The new agency’s offering will include media relations, social media, digital content, influencer marketing, events, live experiences, partnerships, sponsorships, crisis communications, expert positioning and executive visibility. Their current client roster includes Marriott International, Royal Caribbean Productions, Four Freedoms Park Conservancy, Revactin, Freddie Set Go, Jason Mitchell Kahn and VideoOut.
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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