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Havas Formula sets up shop in Denver, its sixth U.S. location. The Denver office will be headed up by senior vice president Alexis Anderson, who manages many of the agency’s high-profile public relations clients, and Amy MacFarlane, account director in its experiential and activation division, Havas Street. While the agency is currently operating virtually, Havas Formula CEO Michael Olguin says that it will be looking to settle on a physical location later this year. “The Rocky Mountain states provide a tremendous opportunity in the food, technology, health and wellness industries,” said Olguin. “In addition, there is a tremendous amount of talent currently residing in the area.” Headquartered in New York, Havas Formula also operates offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and San Diego.
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The Center for Public Interest Communications at the University of Florida receives funding for two projects aimed at offering science-informed tools to combat COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. In November, the Center released the Guide to COVID-19 vaccine communications: a practitioner's guide to the principles of COVID-19 vaccine communications for the United Nations Verified initiative, and the principles outlined in that plan will serve as the foundation for the two new projects. The Center will work with the Manufacturing Institute on its “This Is Our Shot” project to create a strategy for U.S. manufacturers to help answer the questions and concerns that their workers have about the vaccines. It will partner with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation on an evidence-based guide will help people talk to skeptical family members, friends, church members or colleagues.
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| Jon Goldberg |
PRSA names Jon Goldberg, founder and chief reputation architect of New Jersey-based Reputation Architects, to serve as 2021 chair of its Counselors Academy. Goldberg has served on the executive committee of Counselors Academy since 2014 and he is also a director-at-large of PRSA’s New Jersey chapter and co-chair of the society’s National Civility Task Force. “The opportunity to collaborate with and learn from other highly successful professionals with a shared commitment to the PR profession and our collective business success has been nothing short of transformational,” said Goldberg. PRSA has also named four new members the executive committee: Curley Company president and CEO Jennifer Curley, RENEWPR president Ben Finzel, Inspire PR Group founder and president Hinda Mitchell, and Precise Communications president and CEO Alexis Davis Smith.
Caster Communications is acquired by long-time agency leaders Alexandra Crabb and Peter Girard... DiGennaro Communications launches The Authority Studio, a freestanding content strategy and production offering... The Brandman Agency, which specializes in luxury travel and lifestyle, rebrands as Brandman.
Public Inc., a social impact agency based in Toronto and New York, acquires Rocket Social Impact, an advisory firm that works with nonprofit and corporate social impact organizations... Ruder Finn launches “What’s Next: The Ruder Finn Podcast,” a new platform hosted by CEO Kathy Bloomgarden... Crowe PR joins United Partners Network, a network of independent PR agencies with members across more than 65 markets worldwide.
Ruder Finn launches rf.Voices, an integrated influence offering that brings together AI-powered influencer marketing, customer advocacy and paid amplification under one measurable framework... The Pollack Group is accepting applications through March 31 for The Big Red Grant, a $40,000 pro bono strategic PR and marketing engagement program awarded to a nonprofit organization ready for growth... D S Simon Media releases a report that says almost seven in ten producers (68 percent) are more interested in airing a story when they know it has been optimized for AI.
Precision Strategies, an integrated strategy and marketing agency with offices in Washington and New York, acquires Firehouse Strategies, a DC-based public affairs firm... AVENIR GLOBAL acquires London-based Thinks Insight & Strategy... Good Company, which bills itself as a “cultural engineering firm,” is launched by DJ Hardy, a veteran of Johannesburg-based communications consultancy arxna and M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment and Casey Stickles, who has worked at 5WPR, Rubenstein and MWW.
PSC (Princeton Strategic Communications) acquires Nonprofit Partners... CG Life launches 24/364, a cultural brand platform intended to drive awareness, connection and action aimed at keeping rare disease at the forefront of the health and social conversation... Interluxe Group, which focuses on brand experiences and in-person activations; Quinn, a strategic communications agency; and media and digital agency North & Warren are uniting under the Interluxe Group banner.
