Chicago-based Reputation Partners has acquired Vollrath Associates, a Milwaukee-based PR and IR shop that builds RP's presence in the Brew City.
Co-founder Marilyn Vollrath (pictured) takes an EVP title with RP, which also adds Jessica Vollrath Huebner as a VP and Samantha Orne as an associate, effective May 2. Co-founder Phil Vollrath is exiting to continue teaching at Marqueette University.
The firm was set up in 1979 with a financial communications focus. Said Marilyn Vollrath: "This is the right decision for Vollrath Associates, at the right time and with the right partner – one who shares our values and is committed to Wisconsin for the long term.”
Megan Hakes, a co-founder of Reputation Partners, has been based in the Milwaukee area for the past 12 years and the firm said it has enjoyed incremental growth to the point where it accounted for about 25% of 2015 revenues. Hakes called VA a "firm we have long admired."
DJE Holdings, parent of Edelman and Zeno, launches RUTH as an independent shop named after Ruth Edelman, mental health advocate, wife and longtime business partner of Dan Edelman.
New York City PR firms make up the largest slice of O'Dwyer's 147 firm overall ranking with 33 of 40 in the New York/New Jersey area either calling Manhattan their home or having a presence there.
Subject Matter+Kivvit, which joined forces in May, has rebranded as Avoq, an integrated shop with more than 200 professionals in Washington, New York, Asbury Park (NJ), Miami and Chicago.
While PR pros stationed at in-house comms. teams and those working for agencies share many of the same objectives, they also have markedly different top priorities, according to a recent report.
Edelman is cutting 240 employees or about four percent of its workforce to cope with the cooling down of the PR sector, according to a memo from CEO Richard Edelman.
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