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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.
Mark Allen & Co. acquires Alban Communications, establishing its first Miami office... Buchalter, a business law firm, launches a crisis management and strategic response group... 5W PR expands its beauty practice to include TikTok Shop-aligned PR campaigns and creator amplification strategies.
Caster Communications is acquired by long-time agency leaders Alexandra Crabb and Peter Girard... DiGennaro Communications launches The Authority Studio, a freestanding content strategy and production offering... The Brandman Agency, which specializes in luxury travel and lifestyle, rebrands as Brandman.
Public Inc., a social impact agency based in Toronto and New York, acquires Rocket Social Impact, an advisory firm that works with nonprofit and corporate social impact organizations... Ruder Finn launches “What’s Next: The Ruder Finn Podcast,” a new platform hosted by CEO Kathy Bloomgarden... Crowe PR joins United Partners Network, a network of independent PR agencies with members across more than 65 markets worldwide.
Ruder Finn launches rf.Voices, an integrated influence offering that brings together AI-powered influencer marketing, customer advocacy and paid amplification under one measurable framework... The Pollack Group is accepting applications through March 31 for The Big Red Grant, a $40,000 pro bono strategic PR and marketing engagement program awarded to a nonprofit organization ready for growth... D S Simon Media releases a report that says almost seven in ten producers (68 percent) are more interested in airing a story when they know it has been optimized for AI.
Precision Strategies, an integrated strategy and marketing agency with offices in Washington and New York, acquires Firehouse Strategies, a DC-based public affairs firm... AVENIR GLOBAL acquires London-based Thinks Insight & Strategy... Good Company, which bills itself as a “cultural engineering firm,” is launched by DJ Hardy, a veteran of Johannesburg-based communications consultancy arxna and M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment and Casey Stickles, who has worked at 5WPR, Rubenstein and MWW.
