Weekender

February 5th 2023

Weekender

It’s been another busy week of business deals in the PR and communications industry. Finn Partners has acquired another firm, creative, digital and design agency Outre Creative, and MikeWorldWide has bought tech specialist shop MRB Communications. There are also new CEOs at comms tech giant Cision and the agency Hotwire.

The PRWeek US Awards will be held in New York City on March 16. Buy your tickets today.

The inaugural PRWeek Crisis Comms Conference is scheduled for April 12-13 in Washington, DC.

PRWeek's Healthcare + Conference Awards will be held on May 24.

The PRWeek Agency Business Report 2023 is now open for submissions.

CEO shakeups

Hotwire ups Heather Craft to North America CEO

The agency has also launched a global growth team.

Cision names Cali Tran as CEO

Brandon Crawley had been serving as the interim chief executive since last February.

Acquisition watch

Microsoft’s Frank Shaw on using Twitter to argue for Activision acquisition

Microsoft and Activision chief communications officers Frank Shaw and Lulu Cheng Meservey pushed for the nearly $70 billion acquisition on Twitter, highlighting what’s convenient and challenging about using social media in corporate communications.

Finn Partners acquires creative and digital design agency Outré Creative

Outré founder Aidan McCann joins Finn as senior partner.

MikeWorldWide acquires MRB Public Relations

MRB will join MikeWorldWide’s global tech practice, led by Maria Brown.

Lambert Global acquires Roy Public Affairs Management

Roy Public Affairs founder and principal Melissa Roy joins Lambert as Detroit managing partner.

AOR wins

Hotel brand citizenM names W Communications as US AOR

W will support the hotel brand’s growing North American portfolio.

Ulta Beauty hires Hunter to handle consumer media relations

The beauty retailer also works with Zeno Group with both firms serving as AOR.

Vegan hair care brand Better Natured brings on CRC as AOR

CRC was acquired by 360PR+ last year.

Boll & Branch names Diffusion AOR

Small Girls PR was the incumbent on the account.

People moves

Stagwell and Sloane & Company hire former Virgin Group CCO Nick Fox

Fox will head Stagwell’s risk and reputation unit.

Weber Shandwick appoints North America public affairs, social impact and sustainability leads

John Files, Meghann Curtis and Kate Olsen will also join the business and society futures leadership team.

Ruder Finn names Chip Scarinzi U.S. head of technology and innovation

The former Hill+Knowlton Strategies exec will lead the firm’s tech practice in a newly created role.

Buzzed-about news

FedEx sends memo to staffers on the death of employee Tyre Nichols

Nichols was a supply chain worker at one of the package carrier’s Memphis warehouses.

Creative Juice launches business education program for Black creators

The creator banking platform will give five creators $5,000 each as well as lessons on growing a business.

Mission North launches industry diversity initiative Foster the Future

The firm has partnered with Method Communications, LaunchSquad, Agean Public Relations and the PRSA to provide scholarships and stipends to BIPOC students.

Partner content

Global Comms Report: Strategic communications secures elusive seat

The sixth annual PRWeek/Cision Global Comms Report reveals some of the clearest signs yet of how far PR has come — and how its performance under recent pressure and increased embrace of data and analytics have helped get it there.

In partnership with

The media-consumer chasm – and what it means for you

This report, in partnership with PRWeek, digs deep to help comms pros navigate the ever-evolving, increasingly complicated press-public relationship.

In partnership with

What data can do for you – and the entire organization

Access to an unprecedented amount of data has empowered comms pros to notably stretch their influence. As evidenced during this recent webcast, presented by NetBase Quid, the entire organization reaps the rewards.

In partnership with

Dashboard 25

Dashboard 25, class of 2023

PRWeek's annual list of 25 of the most influential people in communications technology, representing the enterprises that are shaping your tech stack.

The future of work

Special report: The future of work

PRWeek explores the evolving professional landscape of how and where people work.

Awards and events

PRWeek US Awards 2023 shortlist revealed

Join PRWeek to find out the winners on March 16 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

PRWeek launches Healthcare Conference + Awards 2023

Finalists will be announced in mid-March and the awards ceremony takes place in New York City in May, 2023.

PRWeek US launches Crisis Comms Conference

Taking place at Convene in Washington, DC, on April 12–13, 2023, PRWeek’s inaugural crisis conference will showcase one of the most important elements of the modern PR pro’s skill set.

Agency Business Report

PRWeek Agency Business Report 2023 opens for submissions

The report, including the comprehensive PRWeek Agency Rankings, will be published in early May.

Bellwether Survey

Communications Bellwether Survey 2022: PR in pole position

The fifth collaboration between PRWeek and Boston University portrays an industry that has the ear of the C-suite but faces new expectations to deliver value.