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Adfero, the DC-based public affairs shop that served the healthcare, technology and energy sectors, closed its doors on June 30, according to a former staffer.
It served clients such as PhRMA, entergy, AT&T, National Retail Federation and the American Council of Life Insurers.
Jeff Mascott, who founded Adfero in 2004, died on February 28, 2023. He had relinquished the CEO post in October 2022 to become chairman.
Darren Scher, a 20-year Adfero vet, succeeded Mascott at the helm and held that post until January 2025, when he assumed the managing director post.
The firm then brought in Steve Lombardo as CEO in March 2025. Previously, he was chief communications & marketing officer at Koch Industries, PA & crisis chair at Burson-Marsteller, and CEO of Edelman’s StrategyOne operation.
He exited Adfero in March 2026.
4media group completes its acquisition of Family Features Editorial Syndicate... Illumination PR, which represents lifestyle brands, influencers and celebrities, launches DR Media Group... EAG Advertising and Marketing acquires pay-for-performance firm INK inc. Public Relations. 
LLYC launches Signs of Pride, a campaign that revives the original protest banners of the first Pride marches... The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry forms the Public Relations and Digital Marketing Working Group... Circle of One Marketing, a Miami-based, minority-owned marketing agency, is named official agency of record for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami. 
Vogel Group, a DC-headquartered government affairs and consulting firm, forms a strategic partnership with Montreal-based public affairs firm Boléro Stratégies... Matter Communications launches project-based offerings for B2C companies looking to increase brand awareness and visibility... Tucker/Hall, a Tampa-based PR and public affairs firm, opens a new office in Orlando. 
Why investing in public relations is ultimately about building bridges in a connected world.
Edelman is laying off 330 people (5.3 percent of its workforce) to cope with an anticipated eight percent shortfall in 2024 US revenues, and client demand for one-stop shopping for speciality services.
