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MACCO Group, a national business restructuring and financial advisory firm, launches a dedicated crisis communications and special situations practice. The new practice extends MACCO's capabilities to include strategic communications counsel for distressed companies, boards, lenders, and their legal teams during restructurings, crises, and high-stakes situations where stakeholder perception directly affects outcomes. Former FGS Global associate director Ben Rosner, who also served as head of strategy and communications for the Israel Defense Forces, has been brought on as senior advisor to lead the effort. "Restructurings don't happen in a vacuum. Creditors, employees, regulators, and the media are all watching, and what they believe shapes what happens next," said MACCO founder and CEO Drew McManigle.
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Anomaly, a Stagwell unit with 600 staff across its talent hubs in Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, London, Berlin and Shanghai, launches a Paris office. BETC Paris veterans Mehdi Benali (managing director) and Olivier Aumard (executive creative director) will lead the new operation as CEO and CCO, respectively. They will partner to drive Anomaly’s presence in the market, working directly with Anomaly co-founder Carl Johnson. Aumard will also collaborate with Anomaly co-founder & global CCO Mike Byrne on matters of creative leadership. “I’m energized by the opportunity to merge Anomaly’s culture with the creative force of Paris and build something truly meaningful,” said Aumard.
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ASTRSK PR opens applications for its 8th Annual Pro Bono Contest. The contest awards one early-stage startup, founded by a woman, BIPOC, AAPI and/or LGBTQIA+ entrepreneur, with a full year of PR services valued at over $200,000. Since launching the program, ASTRSK has invested more than $1.6 million in pro bono PR services. Past winners include Both&, a trans-founded clothing brand and Winx (formerly Stix), a women’s health company. To apply, startups must meet the following criteria: be founded by a woman and/or a BIPOC, AAPI or LGBTQIA+ person; be consumer-facing (no B2B-only businesses); and have raised less than $1.5M in funding. Applications are open through May 15 and the winner will be announced by June 15, 2026. “As an openly gay founder myself, I want to see more of us represented in the brands shaping culture,” said ASTRSK PR founder and CEO Elliot Tomaeno. “This contest is our way of helping level the playing field and shining a spotlight on ideas that deserve to be heard.”
IPREX names Big Picture PR in San Francisco, Precision Strategies in Washington, D.C., and Tiny Mighty Communications in Nashville as its first Americas Partner Cohort... Highwire launches AcroAnswers, a proprietary AI visibility platform... Big Red Oak and Naer Communications, a Calgary-based firm, form a partnership providing integrated communications and marketing services to clean energy companies and organizations across Canada.
Matter launches its Review Visibility Management service to address a shift in how companies across verticals earn trust online... A Queens school is putting out the message about Sept. 12, 2001 when people came together to help, comfort, rebuild and unite... Directive expands its Directive Communications division, which will bring PR, organic social, influencer marketing and paid social together under one integrated organization.
Praytell expands its Influence Department—which unites media, creators and social under one team... LRJ PR & Communications and Canopy Brand Group form an alliance that the firms say will bridge the operational divide between high-end brand design and strategic public relations... Twin Minds Media, Hispanic market specialist, increases the scope of its services in an effort to help brands build deeper connections with audiences through culture, storytelling, media and experiences. 
The People Platform, part of Stagwell's The Marketing Cloud, rebrands as Numetrix... Zapwater Communications has earned 17 finalist honors across two PR competitions: eight at the 68th Annual Golden Trumpet Awards, presented by the Publicity Club of Chicago, and nine at the 2026 PRSA Chicago Skyline Awards.. The Florida Public Relations Association presented 122 awards to individuals and teams from across the state at its 69th annual Golden Image and 3rd Annual Pinnacle Awards gala.
The Motion Agency acquires Vehr Communications, a Cincinnati-based strategic communications firm, effective Oct. 1... Lyceus Group, which specializes in financial services, is named a finalist for Public Relations Campaign at the 2026 ThinkAdvisor Luminaries Awards... IPSY, a curated beauty membership platform, launches IPSY Marketing Solutions, a full-funnel marketing and sales acceleration engine. 
