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| Jon Cook, Mel Edwards |
WPP merges Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R into a combined entity known as VML, which it says will be the industry’s largest creative company, with more than 30,000 people in 64 markets. The new company will be operational from Jan. 1, 2024. VMLY&R global CEO Jon Cook takes the same post at the new unit and Wunderman Thompson global CEO Mel Edwards will be VML global president, and the broader management team will bring together leaders from across both companies. Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R have previously partnered globally across clients such as Colgate- Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé and The Coca-Cola Company. “Separately, Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R are two of WPP’s strongest and best-performing agencies,” said WPP CEO Mark Read. “Together, they will deliver an even wider, fully integrated suite of capabilities to our clients in every market.”
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FGS Global forms a partnership with Drury Communications, an Irish strategic communications and public affairs consultancy. The partnership gives FGS Global clients access to services in Ireland across financial communications, public affairs & regulatory and campaigning, while providing Drury and its clients access to FGS Global’s team of more 1,200 communications experts in 27 offices around the world. Drury will continue to operate under its own brand and identity, while the new relationship has no impact on the independent company’s leadership or ownership structures. “Our partnership with Drury further strengthens our global footprint. Drury has extensive experience advising at the very highest levels of corporate and public affairs in Ireland, and a capability in financial communications that is unmatched in the Irish market,” said Faeth Birch, CEO of FGS Global's UK and EMEA regions.
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Cision launches CisionOne, a media monitoring and outreach solution, in the US, following a launch in the UK in July 2023. In addition to providing PR and comms professionals with live, in-depth media insights, CisionOne will have offer exclusive access to paywalled content including the Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, MarketWatch, Investor’s Business Daily, the New York Times and Dow Jones Newswires. Powered by artificial intelligence, CisionOne focuses on letting users identify stories that impact brands and reveal the genuine intent behind people’s words.
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| Nicole Swickle |
Honest Interactions, a creative communications and management agency, is launched by Nicole Swickle, who was previously senior manager, communications at Red Bull Media House. Swickle has also handled brand storytelling, talent management and PR strategy at such companies as ESPN and PUMA. The new agency is working clients with including NASA and MIT, as well as NFL players, astronauts and World Champion Kayakers.
PKPR, a New York-based boutique shop, launches a book publicity division focused on nonfiction authors... Palantir Technologies and Stagwell form a partnership to create an AI-driven platform for marketers... The Conference Board is presenting a Nov. 18-19 event at the Brooklyn Marriott that will look at the priorities, challenges and opportunities facing AI decision-makers today.
Gregory FCA is marking its 35th anniversary with a comprehensive rebrand... Madden Media, a Tucson-based agency, teams with Denver-based Karsh Hagan... Jasper, an AI content automation platform, launches Jasper Grid, an interface that allows marketing teams to create and orchestrate content across a range of channels, audiences and regions.
Sommerfield Communications, a corporate, financial, and crisis shop that was acquired by Allison Worldwide in early 2021, re-launches as an independently owned firm... D S Simon Media launches a broadcast media tour designed to enhance Generative Engine Optimization... The Public Relations Society of America’s ICON 2025 Conference brought together close to 2,100 in DC from Oct. 28-30.
CorpBridge Advisors is launched by Bob Christie (Brunswick and Alibaba Group veteran) and Russ Rubino (Nasdaq and Intercontinental Exchange/NYSE alum)... Golin marked its 30th anniversary in Miami with an Oct. 23 gathering that celebrated its new outpost in Coral Gables... The Notability Company debuted at the PRSA annual ICON Conference in Washington.
Padilla launches Padilla GEO 3D, a service that aims to improve generative AI search results for brands and organizations... Bader Rutter, a Milwaukee-based B2B marketing agency, unveils the Chef Advisory Network, an initiative designed to bring the voice of the kitchen into food company boardrooms... Dilenschneider Group founder and principal Robert Dilenschneider’s new book, Respect: How to Change the World One Interaction at a Time, was released on Oct. 28 by Wiley... Blue Highway Advisory and Blue Highway Global, founded by former Mercury Public Affairs managing director Ian McCaleb in 2022, rebrands.
