 Doug Poretz |
Qorvis Communications co-founder Doug Poretz is launching High Growth Communications, an integrated communications agency that will focus exclusively on the medical and recreational cannabis industry. High Growth Communications will offer a full suite of communications services for all segments of the industry, including cultivators, retailers, cannabidiol (CBD) producers and all the affiliated industry participants such as lighting, packaging, and professional services firms, as well as trade associations. “With the industry under the watchful eye of the Congress and the FDA, in addition to the marketing campaigns needed to build brands, cannabis businesses will need experienced Washington communicators to help navigate both its business challenges as well as the regulatory and legislative hurdles that might ensue,” Poretz said.
 Tierney Oakes (left) and Adrienne Arieff |
Los Angeles-headquartered Beck Media & Marketing has opened an office in San Francisco. Tierney Oakes, who served as technology team lead at the agency’s Austin, TX location, heads up the new location. The office handles handles communications programs for several immersive content and technology innovators, as well as National Geographic, Avid Technology and Scribd. In addition, Beck is expanding the offerings of its Los Angeles office. Adrienne Arieff, who was previously a senior vp at San Francisco’s OutCast Agency, is being brought on to bolster Beck’s integrated marketing practice, working with clients on core messaging, content strategy, and influencer programming. The agency also says it is placing a renewed emphasis on hiring across each of its offices and practice areas spanning future media and advertising tech, b-to-b and b-to-c software and services, as well as continuing to focus on television, streaming and special events.
 Tony Cashman |
CashmanKatz has formed a strategic partnership with crisis communications and brand reputation firm Covergyx Media. Covergyx is led by CTV and Forum Strategic Communications founder Richard Frisch. The newly formed practice will become a part of both CashmanKatz’s public relations arm and its sister public affairs agency, Octagon Strategy Group. Frisch and his team will spearhead strategic communications and campaigns, reputation management, crisis and rapid response communications, corporate social responsibility and cause marketing as well as digital media relations and social communications. Other joint services will include public affairs communications, issues management, policy analysis, stakeholder engagement and campaigns for issues advocacy, reputation and branding. CashmanKatz president and CEO Tony Cashman said that the two firms have already collaborated on several projects.
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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