 |
Real Chemistry acquires Avant Healthcare, a medical communications company that provides solutions spanning engagement across the entire drug commercialization lifecycle, including medical affairs, promotional medical education, scientific strategy and consulting and speaker development and management. Financial terms of the acquisition, which closed on Feb. 1, were not disclosed. Avant’s team will become part of Real Chemistry’s Medical group. Its current leadership team will remain with the firm, with Avant chief customer officer and president Trina Stonner, RN, MSN, co-leading Real Chemistry’s Medical group with Suzanne Jacobs, who leads Real Chemistry’s current medical team and is based in London. “Expanding our capabilities with Avant brings us even greater scientific expertise, strength, and creativity to partner with our clients to fully leverage the next generation of product breakthroughs in the next few years,” said Real Chemistry CEO Shankar Narayanan.
 |
Berk Communications launches its inaugural Pro Bono program. Berk will invest $100,000 in public relations services for this year's program, which will emphasize public relations services for emerging companies and entrepreneurs, including those from under-represented groups as well as those giving back and positively contributing to the communities they serve. Agency executives will work with the participants to create a tailored public relations program. The five-month program, led by VP of consumer lifestyle & sports Laura Kepus and senior account director of entertainment & social justice Arianne Antonio, will formally kick off in April. "We're looking forward to the even greater impact we can make with companies that deserve it most through this official program," said Berk founder and president Ron Berkowitz.
 |
| Chris Willard |
Chris Willard Communications, a San Francisco-based strategic communications consulting firm offering hourly consulting, narrative development, launch campaigns, media training and crisis communications services, is being started up by former Warner Bros. Discovery SVP, streaming communications Chris Willard, according to a report in Variety. The new firm will start taking meetings Feb. 12 and anticipates building up to a full client load by late spring. Before his post at Warner Bros. Discovery, Willard was SVP, communications, direct-to-consumer at HBO Max and he served as director of corporate affairs for HBO. The firm’s website says that it will work with “brands who are developing unique and exciting ways to evolve their businesses amidst disruption, and, in this new era of automation, brands who are finding the right balance between human and machine to drive innovation, educate and empower workers, and unlock value across their organizations.”
53Six, a Dublin- and London-based sports marketing agency, is acquired by Irish experience and entertainment group FUEL... Blue Highway Advisory releases a report that looks at how the shift from CEO to AI has changed the way in which consumers access information, and offers advice on how to handle the new landscape... Get Engaged, whose services include campaign ideation, social media management, influencer marketing, celebrity partnerships, content production and paid media, joins SAMY, a social-first agency headquartered in Madrid. 
The Hoffman Agency, a Silicon Valley-based firm with offices in Europe, Asia and the U.S., teams up with United Partners Network, a global community of independent communications agencies... ChangeMakers acquires R&G Strategic, a Halifax, Nova Scotia-based firm with a practice that spans ESG and sustainability strategy and reporting; stakeholder engagement; climate and GHG consulting; sustainability campaigns; branding; communications; and marketing... AltaVista Strategic Partners, a Baltimore-based firm, opens an second office in Tampa, effective Oct. 15.
Curley & Pynn Public Relations Management rebrands as Biplane focused specifically on helping nonprofits build visibility, reputation and trust to advance their philanthropy... SKDK launches a payer negotiation practice that is designed to support health systems as they navigate increasingly complex negotiations with insurers... ChangeMakers, a strategy and communications firm with over 400 professionals across North America, launches RepScore.
Prosek Partners opens in San Francisco under the leadership of partner Nadia Damouni... Caliber Corporate Advisers, which works with clients in the fintech and financial services sectors, introduces the Caliber Authority Index (Caliber AI), a proprietary measurement platform... Herbie Thiele Consulting, a public affairs firm blending lobbying and communications, is launched by the longtime Sachs Media partner.
Bospar expands its Audit*E tool for small- and medium-sized businesses, which provides comprehensive visibility scoring, competitive analysis and platform-specific improvement recommendations, giving users actionable intelligence to help with brand positioning.... 5W is increasing its presence in Tampa and the Florida market....PR Consultants Group, a nationwide network of senior-level public relations, strategic communications and marketing specialists in more than 50 U.S. markets, has brought on 13 independently owned public relations firms across 13 markets and 12 states so far in 2026.
