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BOC Consult (Ltd.), a consultancy in the fields of public affairs, investor relations, labor relations and communication, is established by Rüdiger O. Assion and Ernst Primosch. BOC Consult will provide support to companies and decision-makers in special situations such as crises and transactions. Assion was most recently head of financial communication for Edelman in the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland). He previously held executive positions at Swiss derivatives bank Leonteq Securities AG, and served as corporate communications chief of Deutsche Börse AG, as well as in leadership roles at General Motors, VW Group and BMW Group. In 2019, Primosch founded Bureau of Communication GmbH, a comprehensive communications and brand consultancy that acquired PR-Journal Verlag GmbH in 2021 and now acts as a shareholder in BOC Consult GmbH. Other partners in the consultancy include Dr. Philipp Rösler, former FDP federal minister and vice chancellor of Germany; Jan Schoch, founder of Leonteq and Michael Krons, a journalist, political scientist, and media expert. The consultancy is headquartered in Düsseldorf and operates offices in Vienna and Zurich.
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| Tess Pawlisch, Margaret Huang |
Needle, which provides a full range of services from communications strategy and media relations to content development and thought leadership, is launched by Tess Pawlisch and Margaret Huang. Pawlisch was most recently director of business development at The Key PR and has also led fundraising and communication programs for non-profits, philanthropic organizations, and political campaigns. In addition to running her own firm, Huang has served as a senior VP at Ditto PR and an advisor to founders, venture capitalists, C-suite executives, and journalists. The agency launches with a roster across industries — artificial intelligence, consumer technology, climate, healthcare, political advocacy and venture capital. “We’re always looking for ways to help founders succeed that are both scalable and effective,” said Neil Devani, founder and managing partner of Necessary Ventures, a Needle client. “The results that the Needle team has brought to our portfolio companies have supported hiring, fundraising, and growth.”
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| Phillip Sontag, Meridith Bridge |
BleuCooper Communications, which specializes in brand management, media relations and integrated marketing campaigns, merges with MK Bridge Communications, a provider of public relations strategies, media relations services, and corporate communications expertise. BleuCooper founder and managing partner Phillip Sontag and MK Bridge managing partner Meridith Bridge previously worked together at Instinctif Partners. The merged agencies, which will maintain their distinct brands while operating under the BleuCooper name, will offer an integrated suite of public relations and marketing communications solutions, showcasing expertise across such industries as consumer packaged goods, food and beverage, leisure and hospitality, corporate, healthcare, and technology. A virtual firm, BleuCooper will form customized teams to efficiently meet clients' needs without incurring additional expenses. "This strategic merger enhances our capabilities and opens new doors for our clients,” said Sontag. “It’s exciting to partner with Meridith again, another true PR professional.”
Avenue Z acquires Shopify development and optimization partner Varfaj... Lexient, an AI-powered risk analysis platform for corporate communications, launches following a successful pilot program... PMG, an independent marketing services and tech company, is opening offices in Mexico City and Toronto... Designsensory, a Knoxville, TN-based branding, digital and creative agency, forms a strategic integration with Ackermann Marketing & PR.
APCO is launching the Global Africa Investment Summit, a platform designed to accelerate investment across Africa... LV8, which specializes in social media strategies and digital marketing, launches a paid media practice... Moxie Strategies introduces Aimi by Moxie, an AI-powered qualitative research product.
The Shipyard, which owns Fahlgren Mortine and TURNER, makes a strategic investment in FancyAI... LAVIDGE launches InkFox Publicity (a LAVIDGE Co.), a publicity firm that will work with publishers; hybrid presses; and professional, indie and self-published authors... 5W PR introduces an investment division.
Supreme Group acquires Broth, a science-first creative agency... BridgeView Marketing launches PR Rosetta Stone, a proprietary, AI-enabled PR reporting and intelligence system... Imperio Chaos, a New York-based public affairs and global advisory firm, is founded by former Dezenhall Resources VP Annie Moore and Victor Lopez, who was previously president of the San Diego Lincoln Club.
The PHA Group, which has offices in London, Manchester and Leeds, is expanding to New York... The Next Solutions Group launches NSG Health... Rational 360, a DC-based firm, has relocated to an 18,000-square-foot space on the city’s K Street business corridor... KAOH Media, a firm specializing in clean energy, sustainable infrastructure, and ESG-driven investments, launches Fieldwise Civic Engagement.
