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| Michael Celiceo |
Clarity PR has launched a dedicated financial services practice, which will offer strategic communications services to venture capital and disruptive fintech companies. The practice will operate globally in cooperation with the Clarity teams in New York, London and San Francisco. Michael Celiceo will lead the practice as managing director. Its client roster includes such VC firms as BootstrapLabs and Scrum Ventures and fintech companies including Even and Monzo. Clarity has also launched its Global Partner Network, a collaboration with agencies in key markets to provide account support to clients around the world. Those agencies include Canela PR in Spain and Portugal, Fabriq in France, Akima in Germany, Sherlock Communications in Latin America, Proudly Represents in the Netherlands and Action Global Communicatons in Russia and the United Arab Emirates.
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Interpublic Group has formed Kinesso, a company that will develop software and products intended to help marketers increase the impact of traditional and addressable media through the better use of data. Kinesso will be comprised of Cadreon, IPG’s addressable media activation experts, and the company’s data and technology group. It will work in partnership with IPG Mediabrands and Acxiom, as well as providing services to agencies across the IPG network. “With the acquisition of Acxiom, we signaled our intent to lean into data-driven marketing,” said IPG chairman and CEO Michael Roth. “Kinesso furthers this vision by bringing together top data and technology talent with addressable media experts, and leveraging Acxiom’s assets and capabilities.” Kinesso is now operational in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland and Australia.
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| Christine Engen |
United Spirit Nordic has joined New York-headquartered WorldWise PR Affiliates, a global network of independent public relations firms. Founded by CEO Christine Engen, the agency focuses on the tourism industry, supporting brands in sectors including aviation, hospitality and tourism, Its services include tour operator liaisons, airline relationships, trade shows, road shows, exhibitions, press trips, press conferences, educational and familiarization trips, travel trade training and CRM. With the addition of United Spirit Nordic, WorldWise PR Affiliates, a New York-based network founded in 2014, now spans 22 countries in North and South America, Europe and Asia. In 2020, the network plans to expand to Japan, South Africa and Australia.
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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