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Edelman is committing $10M to build out its newly formed global advisory unit, which will help governments, businesses and non-profit organizations deal with the rapidly changing geopolitical and economic landscapes.
The No. 1 independent firm has acquired DC-based Basilinna strategic consulting firm and long-term Edelman partner to serve as foundation of Edelman Global Advisory, which is a unit of the DJE holding company.
Basilinna's founding partners, CEO Deborah Lehr and COO Leigh Wedell are CEO and co-COO of EGA, respectively.
Lehr served with the National Security Council (director for Asia), Office of the US Trade Representative (deputy assistant), New York Stock Exchange (senior director for emerging markets), Merrill Lynch (senior advisor to CEO) and Paulson Institute (vice-chairman).
Wedell is a vetern of the International Republican Institute (China program director), US Chamber of Commerce (deputy director/Hong Kong-US Business Council associate director), and Paulson Institute (chief sustainability officer).
Edelman Public Affairs COO Gurpreet Brar, who joined the firm seven years ago from Bell Pottinger, is co-COO of EGA.
Based in Washington, EGA has offices in New York, Mexico City, Ottawa, Paris, Brussels, Dubai, Tokyo and Beijing.
Edelman’s initial $10M investment will fund EGA's expansion into new markets and the hiring of regional and sectoral leadership.
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.
