WASHINGTON: Magnet Communications has acquired the PR arm of Earle Palmer Brown and started a public affairs practice in Washington, DC.
Initially, its DC office will be staffed by 10 EPB employees and headed by Phil Armstrong, who formerly headed EPB's PR operations.
The opening of the DC office is described by Magnet as "part of an aggressive entry into the Mid-Atlantic region." In September, the firm announced an affiliation with Warschawski Public Relations, a boutique shop in Baltimore.
According to David Kratz. Magnet's CEO, his firm was looking to launch a public affairs practice when sister Havas advertising agency Arnold Worldwide bought EPB's advertising operations, which included a DC-area office. Kratz added that Magnet found EPB's PR capabilities to be a "good fit" with its plan.
The new office, to be based in Georgetown, will service clients including Northrop Grumman Information Technology, US Figure Skating, UPS, Children's National Medical Center, and the US Treasury. Kratz said his new DC team will also provide added value to Magnet's existing clients, "in addition to creating new business opportunities."
Magnet now has eight offices, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh, and San Francisco.
