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| Gloria Vanderham |
The Next Practices Group and The Bliss Group introduce NPG Health, a life sciences marketing and communications collective. The collective will launch alongside its first firm, Bliss Bio Health. Gloria Vanderham, who was most recently region Europe head of communications at Novartis AG, will serve as CEO for NPG Health and Bliss Bio Health. The Bliss Group founder and managing partner Michael Roth will take on the role of chair for both units. NPG Health and Bliss Bio Health will focus on early science, R&D research, medical education and advertising, commercialization, health programs and reimbursement. “Our goal is to build a one-stop solution from ‘atom to access’ that services our clients at the global level to meet the market needs,” said Bob Pearson, chair of The Next Practices Group and CEO of The Bliss Group.
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Motion has opened entries for its third annual Women of Impact Award. The award honors Chicago women who challenge the status quo in the marketing, advertising, public relations and communications fields. Award nominations, which include a 300-word entry outlining why the nominee deserves to be honored with the award, can be submitted via the online nomination form through Tuesday, Feb. 21. All entries will be evaluated by a panel of internal Motion team members who will then select three finalists to be announced on Wednesday, March 1. The 2023 Women of Impact Award winner will be announced Wednesday, March 8—International Women’s Day. Motion will make a donation on the winner’s behalf to a local charity supporting the empowerment of women. “We feel strongly about elevating the visibility of women’s accomplishments and highlighting those who are making waves in the industry,” said Motion founder and CEO Kimberly Eberl.
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Mod Op, a strategic marketing, design and communications agency, acquires Toronto-based creative agency Context Creative. Context Creative will become Mod Op’s second location outside the US (it also has an office in Panama) and serve as Mod Op’s Canadian headquarters. Context Creative founder Lionel Gadoury and agency principal Cate Jevons will join the Mod Op team as executive vp of strategy & creative and executive vp of client experience, respectively. “This is the logical next step for our agency and enables us to offer our clients the well-known benefits of cross-border business relationships,” said Mod Op CEO Eric J. Bertrand. “Context Creative’s well-rounded staff and expertise in the renewable energy and government sectors make it a perfect fit for Mod Op.”
Walker Sands acquires RevPartners, a revenue operations (RevOps) and GTM engineering firm... FoodMix Marketing Communications, a B2B and B2C full-service food and beverage marketing agency, transitions its ownership to Sara Hagen and Nadine Baarstad... Dynasty Financial Partners launches Dynasty Consulting Group, which will focus on helping RIAs accelerate growth and create enterprise value.
KNB Communications acquires Roketto, a digital agency specializing in generative engine optimization, web design and development, digital advertising and inbound marketing strategy. The combined agency rebrands as Sōvyn... Krupp Agency, an independent New York shop, celebrates its 30th anniversary.... The Worldcom Public Relations Group adds CARRALSIERRA in Mexico City and We Are DNA in Bristol, UK.
The Motion Agency, a woman-owned marketing-services agency, acquires Chicago-based ad agency LKH&S, which has clients such as Hyundai, EmployCo, EvAI and Toggler... Method Communications, which has offices in New York, London and San Francisco, opens in Boston... IPREX adds Coral Communications (South Africa), PR Consultancy (Montenegro) SE2 (Denver) and Trium (Albania).
Kloss Creatives, which works with consumer packaged goods and wellness brands, rebrands to KALET... Everything Branding, which operates from offices in San Diego and Michigan, acquires Darlington Marketing Co... Onfolio Holdings launches SharePulse, an investor relations analytics and engagement platform, and Parlance, a managed communications service.
Fire on the Hill, and Fourth Day, along with its sister company Quatrième Jour, are merging... 5W publishes a study that says many long-time media heavy hitters are coming up short in terms of their AI influence... EducationDynamics, a higher education marketing and enrollment management company, acquires Net Natives... Mark Allen & Co. is launching an expanded thought leadership model with multiple activations at Cannes Lions 2026. 
