PR Firm News: Supreme Group Unveils Supreme Intelligence FDE+
Supreme Group launched Supreme Intelligence FDE+, embedding AI‑native experts within client teams to build production‑grade healthcare solutions. The service taps a bench of more than 350 specialists and expands the firm’s proprietary AI operating system. Sprout Social announced the July rollout of its Trellis AI engine across publishing, listening, inbox and reporting, plus a Trellis Studio for custom workflow creation. Meanwhile, LaVoie Strategic Communications renewed federal trademarks for its LHS Immersion and LHS Fifteen‑Slide Presentation, underscoring a decade of proprietary methodology use.
Q & A With KPMG: Named In Fortune 100 Best
KPMG LLP was named to Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For 2026, marking its 19th consecutive appearance on the list. The firm attributes the honor to a blend of high expectations, robust employee support, continuous learning, and the integration of AI tools that streamline work. Managing...
Weber Shandwick's Yoder Moves to Ruder Finn
Kelly Yoder, former North America health lead at Weber Shandwick, joins Ruder Finn as managing director and head of health & life sciences. She brings over 20 years of communications and product‑marketing experience across pharma, biotech, medical‑devices and diagnostics. Yoder will...
How Corporate DEI Executives Should Be Advising C-Suite Leaders
In a May 8, 2026 interview, Soon Mee Kim—board chair of Diversity Action Alliance and new CMO of Zero RFI—explains how DEI executives should counsel C‑suite leaders amid heightened polarization. She categorizes current DEI work into three flawed models: “witness protection,” “figurehead,” and “compliance...
The Deepfake Era Has Arrived and PR Is the Front Line
AI‑generated deepfake videos have moved from theoretical risk to active weapon in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, exemplified by the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s fabricated ad of Texas candidate James Talarico. Similar attacks have hit Europe, with the Bank of...
PR Firm News: BGR Analytics Rates Texas Tops for AI Investments
BGR Analytics released its Best States for AI Investment Index, ranking Texas as the top state for artificial‑intelligence capital, with Utah and Florida trailing. The index evaluates 50 states and D.C. across five pillars: dynamic economy, business climate, data‑center readiness,...
On the Move: Six Flags Hires Carnival Cruise Vet
Entertainment and publishing firms announced a wave of senior marketing appointments in early May 2026. Six Flags Entertainment named former Carnival Cruise Line CMO Amy Martin Ziegenfuss as its new chief marketing officer, aiming to leverage data‑driven strategies for the...
Mourning 'The Mouth of the South'
On the day Ted Turner died, CNN’s chief correspondent Christiane Amanpour warned that the network’s independence could be compromised under new owner David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance. The Anti‑Defamation League reported a 33% decline in antisemitic incidents to 6,274 in 2025, though...
Infinite Acquires Dukas Linden Public Relations
Infinite, the third‑largest professional‑services firm in O’Dwyer’s portfolio, announced the acquisition of Dukas Linden Public Relations (DLPR). In 2025 Infinite generated $11.1 million in fees while DLPR posted $10.1 million in income, ranking eighth among financial‑services communicators. The deal brings DLPR’s elite...
Building the CEO/Corporate Comms Relationship Early
CEO turnover accelerated in early 2026, with major firms like Walmart, Disney, and Apple announcing new leaders. A 2025 academic study of 557 S&P 1500 CEO successions found that firms that communicated more frequently about their new CEOs saw higher analyst...
PR Firm News: AKCG Acquires Hennes Communications
Philadelphia‑based PR firm AKCG has acquired Hennes Communications, expanding its crisis‑planning, management and media‑training services. The Martin Group in Buffalo bought creative studio Mr. Smith Agency, adding branding, digital marketing and video production capabilities. ExpertClick launched a free press‑room that gives...
MWW Reels in Hudson Lake
MikeWorldWide announced the acquisition of HudsonLake, a firm specializing in workforce communications, employee experience, and organizational change. The deal brings HudsonLake’s expertise in employer branding, recruitment marketing, and labor relations into MWW’s strategic communications portfolio. HudsonLake’s client list spans Toyota,...
The Integration Advantage
The article warns that keeping investor relations and public relations separate is a relic in today’s hyper‑connected market, where narratives travel across media, social feeds, and capital‑markets in minutes. Misaligned messaging now creates real pricing risk, manifesting as intraday volatility...
On the Move: Blue Highway Advisory Adds Legare, Huxley
Blue Highway Advisory opened a Boston office and hired Rob Legare as a senior litigation communications advisor and Sam Huxley to lead digital reputation, OSINT and public affairs services. Legare brings former CBS Justice Department reporting experience, while Huxley adds...
Ex-Obama Aide Takes NYT PR Post
Katie Hill, former communications director for President Obama and SVP of communications at the NFL, has been appointed senior vice president and global head of communications and external affairs at The New York Times. In her new role, Hill will oversee corporate...
Brunswick Group Bolsters SF Outpost
Brunswick Group announced the addition of Christian Buss and Paul Shaw as partners in its San Francisco office, bolstering the firm’s advisory depth. Buss arrives from Teneo where he co‑led investor relations, bringing experience in shareholder activism, crisis management, M&A and...
Soma Oil Searches for US Partners
Soma Oil and Gas Ltd., a BVI‑registered upstream explorer, is actively seeking U.S. partners to develop offshore blocks off Somalia’s extensive coastline. Owner Sami Michl, who holds a 10% stake, is offering farm‑out opportunities and is ready for meetings and...
How AI Is Reshaping PR Firm Valuations
AI is transforming public‑relations firms from labor‑based outfits into intelligence‑driven platforms, boosting profitability and scalability. Buyers—especially private‑equity sponsors—are now pricing firms on AI‑enabled productivity, recurring‑revenue services, and data‑rich insights, which lifts recasted EBITDA multiples. Firms that embed AI in repeatable...
How Earned Media Supports Nonprofit Authority in a World Powered by AI
Nonprofit organizations are losing control of first‑contact impressions as AI‑generated summaries and third‑party citations replace direct website visits. Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) now prioritizes earned‑media placements, making credible external coverage essential for AI‑driven search visibility. To thrive, nonprofits must craft...
On the Move: Actum Adds Beck
Actum has hired former Trump 2024 campaign and Department of Energy transition team member Andy Beck as senior managing director in Washington, D.C., bringing deep federal‑policy experience to its consulting practice. Beck will advise clients on sectors where government funding...
PR Firm News: Actum Acquires NYC's Modern Advocacy
Los Angeles‑based consulting firm Actum announced the acquisition of New York‑based government‑relations agency Modern Advocacy, adding founder Jon Rossi as managing director. The deal expands Actum’s presence in Albany and Central New York and brings expertise in healthcare, infrastructure and cannabis policy....
DGA Group Hires Commerce Depts Phan
Public relations firm DGA Group has appointed Pamela Phan, former deputy assistant secretary for Asia at the U.S. Commerce Department, as a partner in its Washington, D.C. office. In her government role, Phan managed more than 200 employees across 17...
PPHC Makes Acqui-Hire Moves
Public Policy Holding Company (PPHC) announced an acqui‑hire of Cowen Consulting and Putnam Strategies, bringing veteran lobbyists Lee Cowen and Nicholas Evans into its MultiState Associations government‑relations unit. Cowen, a former House Budget Committee majority counsel, founded his firm in...
PR Firm News: Upspring Launches AI Authority Audit
UpSpring, a PR and growth partner for the built environment, launched its AI Authority Audit to help architecture, interior design, product manufacturing and construction firms improve visibility on generative AI search platforms. The service starts with a discovery call and...
On the Move: Penn State Health Names Royer PR Chief
Penn State Health announced the appointment of Dara Royer as senior vice president and chief marketing and communications officer, effective June 29. Royer arrives from Syracuse University after senior roles at Mercy Corps and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. At the...
OMC's 'Core Operations' Post 6.7% Q1 Growth
Omnicom Group reported a 6.7% rise in core‑operations revenue to $5.6 million in Q1, while total revenue surged 69.2% to $6.2 billion after acquiring Interpublic. Net income increased 41.7% to $405 million. The PR segment, featuring agencies like Weber Shankwick and Golin, generated $659.8 million....
WPP Q1 Revenues Tumble 6.7%
WPP reported a 6.7% decline in like‑like revenues for Q1, falling to $3.1 billion after accounting for pass‑through costs. CEO Cindy Rose said the results align with expectations and reflect progress in her plan to simplify and integrate the agency network....
On the Move: FINN Names Swan Head of Futures and Client Transformation
FINN Partners announced Greg Swan as head of Futures and Client Transformation, tasking him with AI‑driven innovation and new‑business development for U.S. clients. Haleon appointed Richard Manso as U.S. chief marketing officer to fuse data, technology and consumer insight across...
Former Rockefeller Foundation COO Joins SKDK
Patrick Brennan, former chief operating officer of the Rockefeller Foundation, has joined SKDK as a principal in its public‑affairs practice. His résumé spans senior roles at Guardian Life, the Bloomberg mayoral office, and political campaigns for labor unions. Brennan also led...
Weber Shandwick's AI Guru Moves to FGS Global
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how brands manage media, reputation, and content creation, from automated monitoring to predictive crisis modeling. In response, communications firms are building dedicated AI advisory practices to help clients translate technology into strategic advantage. FGS Global’s...
Five Things That AI Will Change and Five Things It Won't Change in the Comms Industry
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the communications sector, slashing research cycles from weeks to minutes and enabling the creation of synthetic audiences for instant message testing. Agencies will feel pressure to abandon traditional hourly billing as AI tools reduce labor...
Fragmentation Fuels Distrust of Health Sector
The 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer’s Special Report on Health reveals deep fragmentation in U.S. health discourse, with 86% of respondents seeing the sector as divided. Trust in the healthcare system has slipped, and confidence in media reporting on health dropped...
ICR Bolsters Healthcare Unit
ICR announced two senior hires to strengthen its healthcare communications franchise: John Capodanno was named head of U.S. healthcare corporate communications, and Matthew Willey was appointed managing director of the medical‑technology and diagnostics practice. Capodanno brings over 25 years of...
FGS Global Books JetBlue Airways
FGS Global, a KKR‑owned consulting firm, has been hired to represent JetBlue Airways on federal matters such as air‑traffic‑control modernization, airport slot allocation, and broader industry advocacy. The airline is under scrutiny for alleged "surveillance pricing," a practice that tailors...
Philanthropy Perceived as Reputation Laundering
The Global Situation Room’s Q1 2026 Reputation Risk Index shows philanthropy losing its moral high ground, now viewed as “reputation laundering.” Survey data reveal 87.3 percent of respondents think the sector fails to communicate its impact, while political pressure and DEI program...
On the Move: Vested Hires Ngy, Dalton-Borge, Fontana
Vested announced three senior hires: Sitha Ngy joins as Senior Creative Director from Deloitte Digital, Paul Dalton‑Borges becomes Managing Director of its London office after a stint at Four Agency Worldwide, and Adam Fontana is appointed Director of Digital Strategy...
Accounts in Transit: USAA Educational Foundation Extends Crosby
Crosby Marketing Communications has signed a two‑year extension to provide integrated marketing services for the USAA Educational Foundation, a nonprofit that offers free financial‑education resources to service members, veterans and their families. Ripley PR was appointed agency of record for...
Collected Strategies Handles Rare Earths Deal
Collected Strategies, the media firm for USA Rare Earth (USARE), announced the acquisition of Brazil’s Serra Verde miner and processor for $2.8 billion in cash and stock. The deal is underpinned by a $500 million loan and a 15‑year supply agreement from...
Gunby Sticks Around at FTI Consulting
FTI Consulting CEO Steve Gunby, 68, has reversed his plan to step down in 2027 and will continue serving as both chief executive and chairman. The firm had combined the two roles temporarily to mentor a successor, but the transition was...
PR Firm News: RooneyPartners Launches 'Wealth Watch' Podcast
RooneyPartners announced the launch of Wealth Watch, a new podcast hosted by former CNBC senior editor Jim Pavia, aimed at wealth advisors and investors. At the same time, Beehive Strategic Communication disclosed a leadership transition, naming Nicki Gibbs as president...
How PR Can Advance Minority Health Equity
The article argues that healthcare public relations must move beyond awareness to actively drive minority health equity. It outlines three strategic pillars—building genuine community partnerships, applying cultural fluency through transcreation, and committing to sustained, measurable outreach. By reshaping how messages...
Joele Frank Works QVC's Chapter 11
QVC Group has entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and engaged Joele Frank for strategic communications. The restructuring aims to trim long‑term debt while rolling out its “WIN Growth Strategy” across TikTok, streaming apps, e‑commerce sites, physical stores and TV. CEO David...
Netflix's Hastings Mails It In
Netflix founder Reed Hastings announced he will step down from the company’s board at the June 2026 annual meeting, ending a 28‑year tenure that began with the DVD‑by‑mail service. During its mail‑order era Netflix shipped 5.2 billion discs and became the...
On the Move: Stagwell Brings On Olesnevich, Schutte
Stagwell announced the appointment of David Olesnevich as Chief Growth Officer and Drew Schutte as Chief Revenue Officer for its Owned Media division, underscoring a push to scale assets like Ink, ReachTV and RealClearPolitics. At the same time, Spectrum Science...
PR Firm News: Highwire Launches AcroAI
Highwire introduced AcroAI, an agentic AI platform that equips marketing and communications leaders with real‑time strategic insights drawn from over 100 data sources. The platform extends Highwire’s AI suite, promising secure, scalable campaign execution while preserving brand voice. In parallel,...
How AI Is Influencing TV News Coverage
D S Simon Media’s 2026 TV News Producers Report reveals that 68% of local TV news producers are more likely to air a story if it is optimized for AI search, while 37% already use AI to identify story ideas and 60%...
The Gambling Industry Is Spending $3.9B the Wrong Way
In 2025 U.S. sports betting and online gaming spent $3.9 billion on marketing, with 36% allocated to TV ads and only 2.3% to earned media and PR. The 5WPR Gaming Trust Index shows that the bulk of spend still targets awareness,...
Media Maneuvers: Nonprofit Group Buys Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, backed by a $50 M commitment and a new $30 M pledge, is buying the Pittsburgh Post‑Gazette, keeping its newsroom in the city while consolidating tech and business functions. Meanwhile, the BBC announced a 10% workforce...
AI Is the Best Friend of Shareholder Activists
KekstCNC’s new white paper shows large‑language‑model AI is reshaping shareholder‑activism communications. J.P. Morgan stopped using traditional proxy‑advisor subscriptions in January, opting for a proprietary AI engine to guide its voting decisions. The study of contested votes from 2023‑2025 finds AI more...
On the Move: Dairy Foods Group Hires FH's McClain
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) hired Maggie McClain as vice‑president of communications, effective April 20, bringing extensive public‑affairs experience from FleishmanHillard, H+K Strategies, and food‑allergy advocacy groups. Bryson Gillette, the minority‑owned strategic communications firm founded by former Obama spokesman Bill Burton, appointed...