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KO Public Affairs, a public affairs and government relations firm, merges with Sandy Hillman Communications, a full-service public relations and consumer marketing firm. The combination of the two Baltimore-based agencies expands KO’s footprint beyond public affairs into consumer marketing. The combined firm will be managed by KO managing partner and co-founder Steve Kearney. KO partner Rick Abbruzzese will oversee the integration of the firms with Elisabeth Feldman, who was an SVP at Sandy Hillman, serving as head of the consumer marketing and public relations division within the combined firm. “This merger combines KO’s local and regional expertise with Hillman’s national footprint,” said Hillman. “We are seeing a growing number of businesses and non-profits needing a combination of consumer outreach and public affairs counsel. This merger provides that full complement of strategic communications services.”
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FanCompass, a fan engagement and data technology company for sports organizations and brands, launches a business division, CORE FOR BRANDS. The new division works directly with brands and agencies to identify, develop and execute targeted digital fan activations using the suite of tools offered on FC CORE, the company’s flagship fan engagement data platform. The FC CORE platform is designed to encourage repeat engagement, providing a flow of zero and first-party progressive data, enriched by a supply of measurable, digital sponsorship inventory that delivers lead generation. "CORE FOR BRANDS unites teams and brands together in a unique, innovative way that brings increased value and drives revenue for all involved,” said FanCompass CEO & co-founder Jamie Pardi.
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Klick Health releases Klick Site AiQ, an AI-driven marketing audit and assessment tool to help life sciences organizations quickly optimize their brand strategies and enhance their market competitiveness. The new tool, which is now available for Klick clients, regularly monitors pharma brand websites, leveraging generative AI to audit and analyze multiple competitive brands’ online content. It then creates an AI scorecard that compares key life sciences criteria, including brand messaging, audience targeting, financial support programs, focus on mechanism of action or delivery, and accessibility based on content reading level. "We want to give pharma marketers the market intelligence they need, but don’t always have the time to capture," said EVP of Data Science Alfred Whitehead. Earlier this month, the agency launched KCM+AI, the first AI social media comment moderator for the life sciences industry.
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.
