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Moonshot, a venture studio focused on purpose-driven brands and products, is started up by the leaders of three enthusiast lifestyle agencies: Ryan Chuckel, CEO and founder of Gunpowder Inc.; Tihomir Liptak, CEO and founder of Bodhi; and Aaron Hitchins, partner at Rockhouse Motion & founder of the Rockhouse Agency. In addition to helping clients create companies from scratch and helping early-stage companies or startups with investment or growth opportunities, Moonshot will partner with companies to provide access to world-class talent and resources. Services it will offer include brand development, creative and production, digital growth strategy, public relations, operations, recruiting and human resources. “We started Moonshot to give us an infrastructure to truly invest in businesses we believe in, accelerate growth in a way traditional agencies can’t and share our insights and resources with purpose-driven brands who share our passion for growth,” said Chuckel.
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5WPR acquires YC Media, a food and beverage communications firm. YC Media founder Kim Yorio comes on board at 5W as senior VP. YC’s clients will continue to receive hands-on strategic consultation from Yorio while gaining access to 5W’s service offerings and client network, including full-service digital capabilities through the firm’s recently launched agency, The HOW Agency. “From our first meeting with Kim and YC Media, it was clear that her firm’s boutique approach to client services, coupled with their strategic expertise that is on par with leading global agencies, mirrors our own,” said 5W co-CEO, Dara A. Busch.
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In Truth is launched by sustainability consultants Emma Steele, Sally Cornelius and Bethan Pugh to help businesses and brands keep track of their reputations on environmental sustainability. In Truth canvasses stakeholders and examines a brand’s media coverage to provide a comprehensive report on perceptions. The report is geared toward helping companies understand how their messaging and initiatives are playing out, helping to minimize any accusations of greenwashing. “Being able to take a comprehensive read on what is and isn’t working – for both our clients and their competitors – means investment can be planned more wisely in terms of operations and initiatives, but also with respect to marketing and comms efforts,” said Steele.
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.
