 |
Geben Communication acquires Women Online, a content and influencer marketing agency that specializes in national social impact and nonprofit clients. Women Online founder Morra Aarons-Mele is joining Geben’s leadership team as executive vice president and will lead the development of a national social impact practice. “The Women Online team has a rich history of successfully implementing creative, innovative campaigns that shift behaviors, engage stakeholders, and educate audiences,” said Geben founder and president Heather Whaling. “This acquisition expands our expertise, elevates our services, and creates new ways for us to support our clients’ goals.”
 |
Weber Shandwick Ireland rebrands as Káno Communications following the agency’s management buyout by managing director Siobhan Molloy last September. Káno remains Irish partner to the Weber Shandwick network. Co-founded over 30 years ago as Financial & Corporate Communications by Eileen Gleeson and Mary McCarthy, the business became part of Weber Shandwick in 2000. Molloy joined the agency in a senior role in 1997 from Carr Communications before becoming managing director in 2004. Its client roster includes Nestlé, the Irish Hotels Federation, Ericsson, Amazon Prime, Ardmore Film Studios and WaterWipes.
 |
Wunderlich Kaplan Communications is now accepting cryptocurrency as a form of client payment. The Museum of Graffiti and Grow. House, a decentralized cannabis NFT game, are the first two WKC clients to pay in crypto. In addition to selectively accepting cryptocurrency as payments, the agency says it will continue to work in the cryptocurrency space with chosen clients. “With the announcement of Goldman Sachs, and most recently, Wells Fargo looking to offer cryptocurrency funds to clients, along with Space X accepting alt coins, we are following suit. Clients have begun to ask to pay in the form and we have realized, we need to evolve with the nature of our clients,” WKC president and founder Dara Kaplan.
 |
Van Eperen, which has offices in Rockville, MD and Baltimore, is rebranding as FOVNDRY. The agency says that the new brand reflects its expanded creative services and marketing team, and is part of a new focus on delivering “holistic solutions from the start.” The transformation is set to affect all aspects of the agency, from client services and solutions to operations. “The time was right to rebrand Van Eperen and create a brand that truly reflects our team’s talent and service offerings across the communication spectrum,” said founder and CEO Laura Van Eperen. "It's a bold move, but so is our approach to helping clients break through typical results.”
Mark Allen & Co. acquires Alban Communications, establishing its first Miami office... Buchalter, a business law firm, launches a crisis management and strategic response group... 5W PR expands its beauty practice to include TikTok Shop-aligned PR campaigns and creator amplification strategies.
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.
