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Taft Communications is elected to partnership in PROI Worldwide. Founded in 1983 and based in the Princeton area of New Jersey, Taft focuses on communications to drive purpose and impact. Much of its work centers on sustainability; diversity, equity & inclusion; employee engagement; social impact; health and other ESG topics. “ESG programs are an important and growing part of the work done by many PROI Partners around the world,” said PROI Worldwide global chair Ciro Dias Reis. “Taft Communications’ purpose-driven model fits well within the culture of our entrepreneurial network and brings additional perspectives in this area.” PROI Worldwide encompasses more than 85 PR and communications businesses in 165 cities and 55 countries.
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The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications forms the Consortium on Trust in Media and Technology Consulting Council, a team of senior executives from journalism, technology, gaming and strategic communications, who will advise the Consortium on industry trends and activity and provide feedback on programs and research. The council includes, among others, Google head of global partnerships/search Banks Baker, Center for Public Integrity CEO Paul Cheung, StoryCorps CEO Sandra Clark and Omnicom Media Group senior vice president, marketplace intelligence Ben Hovaness. “The Consortium on Trust in Media and Technology is charged with investigating ways to restore and advance trust in media and technology as a vital part of civic life,” said CTMT managing director Janet Coats. Funds to enable the creation and support of the Consulting Council were provided through a gift from UF alumni Mitchell and Elissa Habib.
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| Cessie Cerrato |
Cessie C. Communications, a public relations and social media influencer marketing agency, is launched by Cessie Cerrato. Cerrato was previously vice president of public relations for Palace Resorts and Le Blanc Spa Resorts, a chain of resorts in Mexico and Jamaica. The new firm, which has offices in Miami and New York City, specializes in the lifestyle, beauty, luxury travel and hospitality sectors. It starts business with a client roster that includes Leviticus Lifestyle & Travel, Turk Hospitality and Rumore Beauty, an e-commerce platform dedicated to the discovery of Russian beauty brands in the US.
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.
