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Barabino & Partners, Italy’s largest corporate communications firm, joins Excellera Advisory Group, the country’s top corporate affairs advisory group. Under the terms of the deal, which will be completed by the end of May, Barabino & Partners will continue operating under the B&P brand. B&P was founded in 1985 by Luca Barabino, who will remain CEO at the firm alongside Federico Steiner, who continues as general manager. The transaction is intended to strengthen Excellera’s presence in Italy through the addition of the Genoa office of Barabino & Partners to the group’s existing ones in Milan, Rome and Treviso. Excellera is also acquiring Community, a firm that works in the reputation management sector. “The management autonomy of each brand is a key element to develop the individual companies and the Group as a whole,” said Excellera Advisory Group CEO Paolo Zanetto.
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Abel Communications launches "Expertise, Amplified," an on-demand thought leadership program designed to programmatically and strategically raise the profile of subject matter experts. The program offers thought leaders services including proactive media relations and media training, as well as assistance with award nominations, speaking engagements and content creation. It also features monthly "Hot Topics" calls with a dedicated account team, quarterly in-person strategy meetings, KPI tracking, media monitoring and customized reporting and analysis. As few as one or as many as five experts from one company or organization can take part in the program. "What's important is the execution; you can do this haphazardly or you can have a structured plan, and that's what 'Expertise, Amplified' offers," said Abel Communications CEO and president Greg Abel.
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160/90, a cultural marketing agency that is part of Endeavor, partners with social fintech platform Lumanu to introduce Integrated Creator Commerce, an offering within its creator, digital and social practice. The offering consists of three primary elements: creator sourcing, which provides access to 40,000 pre-vetted creators for identification, outreach, procurement, and payments; performance media, which will enable 160/90 and its clients to use creator assets for targeting, social ads and landing pages; and affiliate marketing. “Integrated Creator Commerce has the power to shape the future of how creators and brands work together, demonstrating how deeper, mutually beneficial relationships can deliver a stronger ROI,” said Lumanu co-founder and CEO Tony Tran. 160/90 previously worked with Lumanu for seven years to support paid efforts for the agency-run creator campaigns on behalf of the agency’s roster of clients
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.
