Latest Agency News

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MikeWorldWide agrees to pay nearly $2.3 million over COVID loans

The settlement comes after a whistleblower filed a lawsuit against the agency in January under the False Claims Act.

Hendrick’s Gin appoints global ‘cultural’ comms agency

Hendrick’s Gin has selected an independent creative agency to handle its ‘cultural communications’.

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Fidelity Investments taps Golin, Bully Pulpit Interactive for US PR support

The financial services company initiated a review following its internal communications restructuring in February.

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Krispy Kreme changes FleishmanHillard’s remit, hands creative to VML

The Omnicom PR firm is still providing communications support to the doughnut brand.

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Dentsu partners with Meta to bring WhatsApp services to brands

The partnership will enable brands to manage customer experiences through the messaging app.

Jonas Palmqvist, Sarah Scales, Giles Fraser, Lars Erik Grønntun

Brands2Life sold to Scandinavian holding company

Brands2Life, the independent PR agency founded in 2000 by Giles Fraser and Sarah Scales, has been acquired by a relatively new holding company hailing from Scandinavia.

Revive was acquired by Weber Shandwick in 2016. (Image used with permission)

BPD completes acquisition of IPG healthcare firm Revive

Weber Shandwick announced it was selling Revive to BPD in October.

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Marcomms leaders say increasing reach, share of voice is top priority: Muck Rack

The company surveyed nearly 400 marketing and PR execs this fall for its State of Marketing and PR Leadership report.

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LA Tourism names Faulhaber as Canada AOR

The organization recently brought on AORs in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand.

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Weber introduces AI Accelerator

The product includes three components to help clients better use and understand AI.

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ICR launches new agency Blue Engine

The firm is a combination of ICR’s consumer lifestyle team with the recently acquired Bullfrog + Baum.

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Samsung Networks hires AxiCom as North America AOR

The WPP agency is supporting the networking technology company with earned media and analyst relations throughout the region.

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Creator agency Billion Dollar Boy launches innovation unit

Called Muse, the group helps brands and influencers better use emerging technology.

Naweed Khan

Actum hires ex-UK government adviser as MD

Consulting firm Actum LLC has appointed a former special adviser to Baroness Warsi as its managing director.

Steph Lund, Alex Osorio and Andrea Nirsimloo

M&C Saatchi launches creator marketing agency M&C Saatchi Fabric

M&C Saatchi Fabric is spun off from the agency’s influencer practice that sat within Sport & Entertainment.

headshot of Errol Cockfield

Errol Cockfield named Weber Shandwick North America crisis lead

The firm’s crisis and issues business has seen double-digit growth in 2023.

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Salient Global names Tricia Ewald as new CEO

Previous chief executive Bryan Specht died last month at age 50.

Shot of the HPV Fucks Everyone campaign running in a gym

Provocative Publicis-backed campaign warns young people about HPV risks

The goal of HPV Fucks Everybody is to highlight the risks associated with HPV, which includes cancer and genital warts, in an effort to encourage young people to get a vaccine to prevent infection.

Photo credit: Denny’s and Josh Blaylock

Denny’s names Finn Partners PR and brand communications AOR

The restaurant chain also named Mindshare its U.S. media AOR.

Next 15 PR business hit by ‘client spend delays’ in FY

Next 15 has labelled its 2024 full-year performance as ‘robust’, despite having faced ‘inflationary pressures’ and ‘macroeconomic headwinds’ this year.

Analysis

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Is reproductive loss leave offered at your agency?

Agencies with a California presence will be required to adopt the policy by the start of next year. Many firms based there or with a presence in the state already have measures in place.

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Clients are done playing nice about RTO — and that goes for their agency partners, too

Yet despite a prevalence of “this time we mean it” from employers, experts say many companies are still failing with RTO comms.

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RIP AOR?

In-house teams are searching for more short-term support, but that’s not all bad news for agencies.

‘There is an H in HR for a reason’ – can AI solve the PR hiring crisis?

Staff recruitment remains a problem in comms, but AI may provide a solution

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B Corp 101

The CEO of Patagonia calls the B Corp process “a pain in the ass,” and agency leaders say he’s right — but it’s worth it. Here’s how to get started.