 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.
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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