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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.
CIVIC, a New York-based brand experience agency, acquires strategic communications consultancy Wave Kilo... Hotwire Global reaches an agreement with Morning Consult to give Hotwire Global instant access to Morning Consult’s proprietary dataset... The Public Relations Student Society of America announced its 2026–2027 International Committee... Avenue Z is named a Shopify Platinum Partner, the highest tier of Shopify’s Service Partner Program.
ICR releases a report that says the SPAC IPO market has been trending upward—and is likely to stay on that track... Washington Women in PR is sponsoring an April 15 event that looks at how women can change the dynamics that often keep them in lower-visibility positions through strategic self-advocacy and organizational awareness... Life Science Cares Boston, an organization supported by LaVoieHeathScience, will convene leaders, employees and partners from across the life sciences industry for its annual Impact Breakfast on April 13 at the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport.
Bell Yard Communications and Kysen PR, London-based firms that focus on legal market and litigation PR, are merging. The combined firm will operate as Bell Yard Kysen Communications... FINN Partners launches Travel with Tastemakers, a global report that looks at more than 25 destinations through the eyes of the creatives who shape them... Baker Public Relations, a woman-owned agency based in Albany with offices in Pittsburgh, PA and St. Petersburg, FL, rebrands as The Baker Agency. 
