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| Harold Burson |
BCW and the New York chapter of the Public Relations Society of America announced the creation of The Harold Burson Award. The first-ever winner of the award will be recognized during the 2021 Big Apple Awards on Sept. 28. The award will be given to a non-agency practitioner for outstanding communications achievement. The recipient will demonstrate a best-in-class approach to communicating with precision, conviction and transparency. A committee of PRSA-NY members will collaborate with BCW to select the recipient. The recognition is PRSA-NY’s first and only individual award dedicated to a non-agency practitioner for excellence in communications. “PR teams don’t shine without the collaboration and support of the clients and colleagues who are in a position to turn our ideas into actions,” said PRSA-NY president Andrew Graham. “This recognition of a non-agency practitioner is important because the recipient will represent the ideal partner for our industry’s best and brightest professionals.”
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| Jack Leslie |
Weber Shandwick chairman Jack Leslie is one of 80 global leaders and more than 25 organizations across corporate, philanthropic, civil society, advocacy, academic and health sectors to sign a statement calling on world leaders attending the United Nations General Assembly this month to convene a global summit and align on an urgent global action plan to end the pandemic. The letter was sent to President Biden, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, and the G20 leaders. Brunswick Group chairman Alan Parker and senior advisor Kate Fall also signed the statement, which proposes that seven billion doses of high-quality vaccines be made available before the end of 2021. It also urges that every country be prepared to implement equitable vaccination programs at scale by the end of the year and that 70 percent of the world’s population be vaccinated by mid-2022.
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Viral Nation, a social and influencer marketing agency, launches Viral Nation Sports, a division geared toward helping collegiate athletes cultivate long-term and relevant brand partnerships. The launch follows the June resolution by the National Collegiate Athletic Association to let college athletes use their name, image and likeness to seek brand partnership and endorsement deals. Mike Lecce, who has represented such athletes as David Ortiz and Jose Bautista, will serve as VN Sports vice president, leading recruiting and brand partnerships. “Our mission is to build one of the most inclusive, collaborative sports management divisions in the industry," said Viral Nation CEO and co-founder Joe Gagliese. "Our new team of agents are the best in the business: dynamic and creative, their success speaks for itself. They understand that brand partnerships speak louder than ads and have raised the bar regarding client successes.”
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.
