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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.
Champion, which specializes in restaurant, franchise and consumer brands, opens a Miami office, adding to its operations in Dallas and Los Angeles... Violet PR, a Montclair, NJ-based firm that focuses on economic development, commercial real estate and place branding, opens a second office on Park Avenue South in New York... Inflection Point, a founder-led, senior growth systems partner for startups and growth-stage businesses, launches... PRSA announces the recipients of its inaugural Women of Impact Awards. Honorees honorees were recognized during the PRSA Women of Impact Summit & Awards at the Union League Club of Chicago.
FleishmanHillard is shuttering its 20-member Dublin office as Omnicom Public Relations reorganizes its global operations... Vested acquires Watermark, a D.C.-based public affairs and special situations firm.... Matter earns two Pinnacle Awards 2026 Marketing & Communications honors for its clients.
Quad/Graphics launches Direct, a Quad Agency to help marketers create, execute and measure direct marketing campaigns in one connected offering... InnoVision Marketing Group SVP/senior creative director Giselle Campos and SVP/general manager Alanna Markey are among the first-ever winners of the San Diego Business Journal’s Indispensables Awards, which recognizes professionals who make the greatest impact within their organizations and across the San Diego business community... Park Place Technologies, an IT infrastructure services firm that works with Feintuch Communications, releases the second episode of its “The Savvy CIO” podcast. 
Ripley PR is named a silver winner in the TITAN American Business Awards’ Outstanding PR Campaign category... Excellera, a corporate-advisory firm, came in at number one in deal count, as well as fourth in deal value, in Mergermarket’s list of top EMEA firms... Thunderly is telling the stories of military veterans who transferred the discipline, organization and leadership skills developed in service to their country into successful post-military careers as franchise business owners, as part of its year-long "American Dreamers: The Stories of Franchising" effort.
Legendary Boston PR man George Regan is stepping down from day-to-day management of his namesake firm. The 75-year-old will remain chairman.
