 Jolyon Kimble |
APCO Worldwide has opened an office in Manama, Bahrain, expanding its presence in the MENA region. The office is APCO’s fourth in the Gulf Cooperation Council region, adding to the firm’s established presence in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh. Jolyon Kimble, an eight-year veteran of the firm, will lead the Bahrain office as general manager. Before coming to APCO, Kimble led communication and change management around the restructure of the corporate communication department at Kuwait National Petroleum Company and was previously editor of the global government relations magazine Public Affairs News. “Bahrain is a place that is in step with the shifts in the global economy, allowing for innovation and development across sectors,” said Mamoon Sbeih, president of MENA for the agency.
 Catriona Harris |
Uproar PR has been acquired by Kanaris Group from co-founders Mike Harris and Catriona Harris. Kanaris Group executive chairman Ermis Sfakiyanudis will take on the role of executive chairman at Uproar. Catriona Harris will remain with the company as CEO, continuing to focus on client strategy and team development. Mike Harris will remain president and COO, focusing on client acquisition and retention. Uproar PR finished 2018 with year-end revenue of $4.4 million, up nearly 10 percent from the previous year. After the acquisition, the firm will focus on strategic and controlled growth with expanded service offerings and an increase in staff.
 Zack Condry |
The Prosper Group has officially launched Everest Communications and has appointed Zack Condry president of the firm. Condry previously worked for The Prosper Group from 2010-2014. He returned to the firm from Brunswick Group, where he was a director. He has also served as a vice president at Edelman. A digital communications firm, Everest is focused on providing counsel and program execution support to companies across the corporate and financial sectors, with a specialization on hedge funds, technology firms, and sports and entertainment companies. The firm’s areas of practice and capabilities include executive and corporate positioning; reputation analysis and repair (social, SEO, and Wikipedia); crisis preparedness and management; and in-house graphic design, video and web development.
 Fergus Watts |
Bastion Collective, the largest privately-owned Australian communications group, has acquired digital marketing agency Rare Branding and Digital Brand Group, a web and mobile application development services company. The two companies, which are based in Irvine, CA, will serve as anchors for Bastion Rare, a newly formed US division of Bastion Collective. Bastion Rare will provide digital solutions for companies looking to build and market web and mobile solutions and attract new customers in the US, Australia and elsewhere around the globe. “The huge growth in technology and rapidly evolving digital landscape has led to the development of specialist agencies. Rare Branding and Digital Brand Group are at the forefront of this shift,” said Bastion founder and executive chairman Fergus Watts.
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.
