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| Meilin Wong |
Milk & Honey PR opens an office in Singapore, adding to the firm’s presence in London, New York and Munich. Meilin Wong, who joins the agency as a co-owner, will lead the Singapore office as partner and CEO. She was most recently CEO of iSabel, a digital wellbeing startup with clients and users across Asia. She remains as its investor and advisor. The first PR agency in Singapore to be a certified B Corp., Milk & Honey says its new office will focus on helping to drive the ethical, environmental and socially responsible cultural agenda for purpose driven brands locally. “We have a proven track record in successful, profitable expansion internationally,” said Milk & Honey founder and group CEO Kirsty Leighton, “having opened New York under Paul Cohen’s leadership in May 2021; Munich under Manuel Huettl in May 2022 and now, Singapore under Meilin. Together, we are building our expansion momentum.”
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Randle Communications, which is in Sacramento, officially launches its health care practice, formalizing one of the agency’s largest and deepest industry verticals. The agency has built a health care client roster that includes work with payers and providers as well as experience working for and with state agencies, the largest statewide health care trade associations, and some of the nation’s largest not-for-profit health systems and behavioral health nonprofits. The announcement of the health care practice adds to the firm’s public relations, public affairs and political affairs practices. “For decades, Sacramento has been known as a government town, but it’s clear the city is also a health care town, serving as a catalyst for industry and policy innovation,” said Randle senior VP of public affairs and health care practice lead Lindsey Goodwin. “Beyond the large presence of health systems in Sacramento and the Northern California region, decisions in our capital city drive health care national trends and serve as a model for the rest of the country.”
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Paul Werth Associates marks its 60th anniversary this year as one of the few remaining Columbus firms from that time and the only one still operating under the same ownership. Founded in 1963 by its namesake, the firm today provides public affairs, public relations, marketing, research, digital and creative services. “Our 60th anniversary, which we’ll be celebrating throughout 2023, has given us a chance both to mark an important milestone and to reflect on how the public relations profession — and Werth — has evolved,” said Sandra Harbrecht Ratchford, Paul Werth’s daughter and the firm’s CEO. Werth’s work has ranged from helping companies relocate and acclimate to central Ohio (e.g., Honda of America Mfg., American Electric Power, Borden Company, Chase Bank and Anheuser-Busch among them) to advocating for positive public policy related to education, healthcare, environment and workforce development. The agency has won 10 Silver Anvils, the highest award bestowed by PRSA for work on behalf of clients. Its most recent came in 2021 for its collaboration with the Ohio insurance industry to build a workforce pipeline to fill a projected talent shortage. A timeline of Werth milestones can be found here.
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.
