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| Anne McCarthy |
Novitas Communications acquires the CCO-CMO Roundtable from Anne McCarthy, founder and president of Westmeath Global Communications and 6x6 Careers, LLC. The Roundtable is an invitation-only off-the-record gathering for senior marketing and communications professionals. In addition to discussing industry trends and peer-to-peer sharing of issues and experiences, each meeting typically highlights a members’ actual business challenge and the success or failure behind the strategy. “Novitas will build upon Anne’s success and elevate business communications by providing a space for communications and marketing professionals to learn from one another’s experiences,” said Novitas Communications CEO Michelle Lyng.
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Landor & Fitch, a specialist brand and design group, opens a studio at the Waterfront Innovation Centre in Toronto, where it will be co-located with other WPP agencies. The new studio will be led by Scott Beffort, who has spent the last nine years with TAXI, where he has led the growth of their strategic design offering as president of Signal. Landor & Fitch Canada’s client roster includes the Toronto Blue Jays, Dell and Walmart. “Landor & Fitch will be a rich complement to our current services in Canada and will allow us to create even more value for (new and existing) clients,” says Arthur Fleishman, Country Manager for WPP in Canada.
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Vibrant Brands, a Latham, NY firm that provides digital marketing, design, website development, video and branding services to nonprofits, businesses and government agencies, is celebrating 20 years in business by donating a total of $20,000 to different organizations throughout the year. Charities receiving funds include the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society, Pride Center of the Capital Region, Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY, Alzheimer’s Disease Association and NAACP New York State. Vibrant Brands is kickstarting the giving campaign by donating $1,000 to the World Central Kitchen, which serves fresh meals to Ukrainian families fleeing their homes or staying in place as Russia invades the country.
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| Marla Russo |
Bella PR will mark 20 years as a women-owned agency on April 22. The agency, which operates out of New York and London, now boasts a team of 20+ women offering public relations, social media, influencer marketing and creative services. Launched by company CEO Marla Russo, it serves clients including Kinky-Curly, which offers a range of hair-care products. The agenct previously introduced international beauty brand Kryolan to the US consumer market and supported the opening of numerous stores throughout the country.
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.
