 |
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. Rocket will continue operating under its existing brand in the near term, with a phased integration over the coming months. There will be no disruption to client teams, contracts or workflows. Rocket president Melanie Newell will become president of Public U.S., leading the combined U.S. team. Rocket founder Rich Maiore will transition out of the business following the acquisition. The acquisition is intended to strengthen and expand Public’s U.S. footprint and deepen its ability to deliver integrated strategy and execution to purpose-driven clients across North America. “Rocket brings disciplined, implementation-driven strategy, and combined with our nearly two decades of strategy, creative and communications expertise, we can continue to drive impact forward for North American clients,” said Public Inc. CEO Phil Haid.
 |
Ruder Finn launches “What’s Next: The Ruder Finn Podcast,” a new platform hosted by CEO Kathy Bloomgarden. The podcast will focus on how communication and marketing leaders are helping guide the ways in which organizations and people understand, navigate and adapt to technological and cultural disruption. Each episode features industry voices, tech innovators, healthcare pioneers and more. The first three episodes are now available on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube. Episodes will release monthly with future topics including the impact of AI on brand communications, growth-oriented innovation, the future of audience engagement in an AI-powered world. “As AI and automation accelerate change, communications leaders have a responsibility to help organizations move forward with clarity and optimism,” said Bloomgarden. “This podcast is about asking better questions and shaping what comes next together.”
 |
Crowe PR, a San Diego-headquartered agency with a second office in New York City, joins United Partners Network, a network of independent PR agencies with members across more than 65 markets worldwide. As UPN’s partner in the United States, Crowe PR gains visibility as well as access to its international roster of agencies, a move that will enable the firm to support more clients beyond the U.S. market. For other UPN agencies, the collaboration provides them with an experienced U.S. team capable of executing complex communications strategies. “Crowe PR combines award-winning expertise with a strong entrepreneurial mindset and deep sector knowledge,” said United Partners Network founder and CEO Maria Gergova-Bengtsson. “Together, we are expanding our ability to support clients who need trusted, senior teams on the ground in the US, while benefiting from seamless international collaboration.”
Page launches the Polansky Future Leaders Fund, which was established through a gift from 2025 Page Hall of Fame inductee and former Weber Shandwick Global CEO Andy Polansky... Ruder Finn reintroduces its website, ruderfinn.com, which will now feature a large language model (LLM) as its primary user interface... Higher Plane Media is launched by former Sloane & Company CEO Darren Brandt.
Champion, which specializes in restaurant, franchise and consumer brands, opens a Miami office, adding to its operations in Dallas and Los Angeles... Violet PR, a Montclair, NJ-based firm that focuses on economic development, commercial real estate and place branding, opens a second office on Park Avenue South in New York... Inflection Point, a founder-led, senior growth systems partner for startups and growth-stage businesses, launches... PRSA announces the recipients of its inaugural Women of Impact Awards. Honorees honorees were recognized during the PRSA Women of Impact Summit & Awards at the Union League Club of Chicago.
FleishmanHillard is shuttering its 20-member Dublin office as Omnicom Public Relations reorganizes its global operations... Vested acquires Watermark, a D.C.-based public affairs and special situations firm.... Matter earns two Pinnacle Awards 2026 Marketing & Communications honors for its clients.
Quad/Graphics launches Direct, a Quad Agency to help marketers create, execute and measure direct marketing campaigns in one connected offering... InnoVision Marketing Group SVP/senior creative director Giselle Campos and SVP/general manager Alanna Markey are among the first-ever winners of the San Diego Business Journal’s Indispensables Awards, which recognizes professionals who make the greatest impact within their organizations and across the San Diego business community... Park Place Technologies, an IT infrastructure services firm that works with Feintuch Communications, releases the second episode of its “The Savvy CIO” podcast. 
Ripley PR is named a silver winner in the TITAN American Business Awards’ Outstanding PR Campaign category... Excellera, a corporate-advisory firm, came in at number one in deal count, as well as fourth in deal value, in Mergermarket’s list of top EMEA firms... Thunderly is telling the stories of military veterans who transferred the discipline, organization and leadership skills developed in service to their country into successful post-military careers as franchise business owners, as part of its year-long "American Dreamers: The Stories of Franchising" effort.
