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H/Advisors, the global strategic advisory offering of the Havas Network, launches H/Advisors Public Affairs. The new offering will provide clients with public policy and regulatory affairs consultancy across major global health markets in partnership with Havas Health & You, the firm’s global health network. It will support clients in areas including ESG, supply chain, digital transformation, technological innovation, and corporate finance. Mark Twigg, CEO of H/Advisors Cicero, will lead the offer in the United Kingdom and European Union. Mike Hotra, managing director, H/Advisors Abernathy, will lead the offer in the US. "Public affairs expertise in health policy, cost and reimbursement are now table stakes," said Donna Murphy, CEO of Havas Creative Group and Havas Health & You. "By prioritizing growth in this area, we can help clients shape not only their public affairs agendas, but also inform their wider corporate strategy.”
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Novitas Communications launches the Novitas Diverse Voices Scholarship, which will support the career development of historically underrepresented and marginalized students who are pursuing a career in public relations and communications. “This scholarship reflects Novitas’ belief that public relations and the stories we share as an industry will be better served by more voices lending their experience and expertise,” said Novitas Communications CEO Michelle Lyng. The scholarship is open for applications through May 25 on Bold.org, an exclusive scholarship network. Applicants should be high school seniors or undergraduate students, and consider themselves low-income, first generation, BIPOC or LGBTQ+. The application requires filling out basic information and answering an essay question. The winner will be announced June 25.
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WPP is now a consulting partner within the Stripe Partner Ecosystem, a financial infrastructure platform that works with such businesses as Amazon, Ford and Shopify. The partnership will engage in strategy and consulting to provide a range of initiatives including digital transformation, new product launches, e-commerce design and development, mobile applications and payments infrastructure. WPP will receive early access to new product releases and go-to-market strategy in addition to receiving support from Stripe’s team of commerce and payment experts. The news follows WPP’s recent acquisitions of commerce agencies Diff and Fenom. “Through the deployment of best-in-class technology platforms, like Stripe, we’re able to support bold client ambitions, promote powerful data-driven commerce performance and remove friction in delivering first-rate customer experiences," said WPP chief technology officer Stephan Pretorius.
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The Brand Leader, an agency specializing in advertising, branding and design, acquires Benson Marketing Group, a wine and spirits marketing agency. Benson Marketing Group will continue to operate under its own name, and the agency’s team, including agency president Jeremy Benson, will continue to serve clients from its office in New York. TBL president and executive creative director Kyle Duford said that acquisition provides the agency with “a high-performing team, whose subject matter expertise runs deep.” Based in Greenville, SC, The Brand Leader includes professionals in New York, Colorado, Ohio, Texas and Washington, DC.
TEAM LEWIS starts up its AI Practice... Thunderly launches a year-long storytelling campaign focused on how franchising can provide a pathway to business ownership... JIN, a European communications consulting group, introduces "AI Campaigning", a corporate offering designed to model and anticipate stakeholder behavior.
Karsh Hagan and Madden Media join forces as KHM... Endeavor Communications opens an office in the Harbor Point neighborhood of Stamford, CT... Big Red Oak, a Toronto-based communications firm, and D.C. area-based PA firm New Hill Consulting have launched a joint service exclusively for companies in the nuclear energy sector... The Pollack Group has partnered with Brandi AI, a platform for enterprise brand intelligence, AI visibility and Generative Engine Optimization.
Real Chemistry acquires Spurwing Communications, which advises pharmaceutical and healthcare organizations—as well as clients across a broader range of industries—throughout APAC... 5W AI Communications (5WPR) is moving its headquarters from New York to Florida (Miami, Tampa)... Valence Communications, which will focus on biopharmaceutical companies, launches under Matt Middleman, who was founder and CEO at LifeSci Communications.
Moburst, which specializes in digital marketing and AI-powered solutions, acquires Amazon marketing agency Hyperzon... The Public Relations Global Network launches its Health Practice Group, which brings together more than 20 independent agencies across four continents to support health care, life sciences and pharma organizations... ICR’s newly released Q2 2026 SPAC Market Update & Outlook shows a healthy environment for IPOs... Red Banyan, a senior-level crisis management, litigation PR, and reputation management firm, makes its first appearance in the Chambers and Partners listings.
Deerfield Group, a marketing, communications and media firm focused on the healthcare and life sciences sectors, receives a strategic majority investment from Martis Capital, a private equity firm... Bospar and market research firm Propeller Insights release the results of a study that shows public understanding of AI and the role it plays in brand discoverability is lagging behind the progress of the technology itself... Highwire launches AcroIntelligence, a proprietary Large Media Model designed to help companies identify emerging narratives, understand competitive shifts, and make faster, more informed decisions.
