Ballard Inks $2M Pact with Libyan Armed Forces
Ballard Partners has signed a six‑month, $2 million agreement to represent the general command of the Libyan Armed Forces, advising on public‑policy positioning, communications, and U.S. government engagement. The contract automatically renews for successive six‑month periods unless either party provides 30‑days written notice. The team, led by Brian Ballard, includes former Congressman Robert Wexler, MENA practice chief Jasmine Zaki, critical minerals chair Micah Ketchel, and senior partner Syl Lukis. The deal is set against a backdrop where the United Nations recognises the Tripoli‑based Government of National Unity as Libya’s legitimate authority.
Why Reputation Is One of Your Most Valuable Assets
In a March 16 podcast, D S Simon Media CEO Doug Simon and 84 Communications founder Rina Foster examined how AI is reshaping reputation risk. They warned that AI‑generated images, audio and video make false information spread faster across platforms. AI‑driven monitoring...
PR Firm News: Mark Allen Acquires Alban Communications
Mark Allen & Co. announced the acquisition of Alban Communications, creating its first Miami office and expanding expertise in Hispanic media, real estate, and health sectors. Meanwhile, law firm Buchalter launched a comprehensive crisis‑management and strategic‑response group that integrates attorneys...
S&P Global Remains Negative on WPP
S&P Global reaffirmed its negative “BBB” rating on WPP, citing ongoing challenges such as stagnant organic revenue, weak profitability, and uncertainty around strategy execution. The rating agency projects a 2‑4% like‑for‑like net revenue decline for 2026, well below peers like...
On the Move: FGS Global Recruits Richier
FGS Global has hired former HSBC Europe banking chief Jean‑Manuel Richier as a senior advisor to strengthen its equity advisory, investor‑relations and financial‑communications services across Europe. The move follows a series of senior appointments at agencies including TEAM LEWIS, Durée & Company and...
PR Firm News: Caster Communications Gets New Owners
Caster Communications was acquired by longtime agency leaders Alexandra Crabb and Peter Girard, with founder Kimberly Lancaster staying on until August 2026 to ensure a smooth handover. DiGennaro Communications launched The Authority Studio, a standalone content‑strategy and production unit led...
W&M Trains Liberian Lawmakers
Washington & Madison (W&M) has signed a year‑long agreement to train members of Liberia’s legislature in the United States. The program will expose lawmakers to democratic governance practices, legislative drafting, committee oversight, ethics frameworks, and constituent engagement through workshops, policy...
On the Move: Narrative Strategies Recruits Bissex
Narrative Strategies appointed former FTC deputy director Chris Bissex as managing director, bringing antitrust and data‑privacy expertise to its client advisory team. PR firm Marino elevated long‑time executive Elizabeth Latino to COO and managing director, tasking her with operational performance...
Navigating the New Food and Beverage Consumer
Food, beverage and agriculture brands face heightened consumer anxiety driven by inflation, job security concerns, and rising healthcare costs, prompting shoppers to seek trusted, value‑focused information. Third‑party validation—through journalists, experts, peers, and AI‑generated summaries—has become central, elevating public relations as...
Media Maneuvers: WaPo Vet Stockwell Takes USAT Post
USA TODAY appointed former Washington Post deputy managing editor Jamie Stockwell as vice president of news, aiming to modernize its newsroom and drive sustainable growth. YouTube launched a pilot likeness‑detection tool for government officials, journalists and political candidates to combat...
Canada Chooses Cogent for Social Audit
Canada’s Washington embassy has engaged Cogent Strategies to conduct a comprehensive social‑media audit of its 68 accounts on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn. The firm will map how U.S. officials, journalists, think tanks and other influencers consume information online, then...
AI Causing Information Credibility Fatigue
A PANBlast survey of 1,000 U.S. adults reveals a growing "AI credibility fatigue" as 66% of respondents feel exhausted constantly verifying AI‑generated content. Fatigue is especially acute among younger users, with 80% of Gen Z and 76% of Millennials reporting the...
Stagwell Posts 2% Q4 Growth
Stagwell reported fourth‑quarter revenue of $807 million, a modest 2% increase, and adjusted EBITDA rose 3% to $129 million. The company highlighted a strategic shift toward artificial‑intelligence‑driven services, positioning AI as the engine for future growth. It also announced a $350 million expansion...
Mammano Returns to Mercury
Nick Mammano has returned to Mercury Public Affairs as a managing director in its Saddle Brook office, after serving as president and CEO of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA). While leading NJSEA, he oversaw the MetLife Sports...
PR Firm News: Ruder Finn Launches rf.Voices
Ruder Finn unveiled rf.Voices, an AI‑powered platform that unifies influencer marketing, customer advocacy, and paid amplification under a single measurable framework. The offering adds audience intelligence, influence mapping, precision amplification, and risk intelligence, enabling brands to predict and define success before...
Williams Group Heeds Call From Sudan
The Williams Group has signed a one‑year contract to provide strategic counsel, tactical planning, and government‑relations services for war‑torn Sudan, earning a $60,000 monthly retainer. The engagement follows a February peace session that secured preliminary approval for a $1.5 billion package...
On the Move: Seven Letter Recruits NBC Vet Raffa
Seven Letter, a bipartisan strategic communications firm, has hired former NBC White House correspondent Allie Raffa as senior director in Washington, D.C. Points of Light appointed Jeff Zanelli as chief marketing officer, bringing experience from the National Forest Foundation and...
Accounts in Transit: Scout Lab Lands TrustedHousesitters
Scout Lab has been appointed communications agency for TrustedHousesitters, tasked with consumer press, brand positioning, and media strategy to amplify its trust‑based travel model. Magrino secures the role of public‑relations agency of record for BSH’s North American operations, covering product...
On the Move: MOIA America Makes Gamo PR Chief
MOIA America, Volkswagen Group’s autonomous‑vehicle subsidiary, appointed Marcus Gamo as head of U.S. communications, tasking him with building a new communications team as the firm prepares its Buzz ride‑pooling service and Mobileye‑powered self‑driving system for launch with Uber. Continental Strategy...
On the Move: Burson Promotes EMEA COO Buchanan
Burson has promoted its EMEA COO Matt Buchanan to the newly created global chief social and influence officer role, tasking him with scaling social capabilities worldwide. Olly Gosling joins Burson as head of social and influence for EMEA, bringing experience...
On the Move: USAA Hires Curtin of Sam's Club
USAA announced the appointment of Chris Curtin, former CMO of Sam’s Club, as its new chief marketing officer, bringing experience from Bank of America, Visa, HP and Disney. Hemlo Mining named Jason Banducci as vice president of corporate development and investor...
PR Firm News: KITH Gets New Owner
KITH announced that CEO Stephanie Craig, who joined the firm in 2021, has taken ownership from founder Bill Coletti, solidifying her leadership after launching the CrisisResilient 365 diagnostic platform. Meanwhile, Stagwell’s Marketing Cloud expanded its Agent Cloud platform with new AI partners—including...
IPG Integration Could Give OMC Indigestion
Omnicom Group announced its merger with Interpublic (IPG), creating a larger advertising conglomerate but triggering thousands of job cuts. The combined firm’s 10‑K highlights significant integration risks, including talent uncertainty, higher‑than‑expected costs, and possible loss of clients and vendors. Management...
Accounts in Transit: MKTG Sports Lands Agassi Sports Entertainment
MKTG Sports + Entertainment, part of dentsu, has been appointed the agency of record for Agassi Sports Entertainment, overseeing brand positioning, product launches, earned media and executive visibility for the racquet‑sports innovation firm. The partnership coincides with ASE’s rollout of...
On the Move: Alpine Group Snags Trump Aide LaJoie
Alpine Group announced the hiring of former White House special assistant Taylor LaJoie as vice president, bringing deep legislative liaison experience to its client advisory team. The Aleo Network Foundation appointed Kyle Zink, a veteran marketer from Google and Square, as chief...
On the Move: McKinney Recruits Siercks for Consumer Push
McKinney announced the hire of Jae Siercks, former Weber Shandwick SVP, to launch its integrated consumer PR practice, blending paid, earned and owned media. Rational 360 named Nina DeLorenzo, ex‑Indivior chief global impact officer, as Managing Director of Corporate Affairs to grow its...
On the Move: French/West/Vaughan Signs Sykes
French/West/Vaughan announced the hiring of Drew Sykes as Vice President of Social Media and Influencer Marketing, bringing experience from Ignite Social Media and North Carolina State University. Cyber‑security firm Axonius named Meghan Marks as Chief Marketing Officer, leveraging her track...
More Americans Want Brands To Get Political
Ipsos’ February 2026 Consumer Tracker of 1,085 U.S. adults shows a nuanced shift in attitudes toward corporate political engagement. While a solid majority—57% on social issues and 56% on political issues—still prefer brands to stay neutral, the share that endorses...
Accounts in Transit: Red Lorry Yellow Lorry Picks Up Pendulum
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry has been appointed U.S. agency of record for Pendulum, an AI‑driven social listening platform that captures brand mentions across text, audio, video and images. Marino will serve as the U.S. agency for Italian food icons Pasta...
On the Move: E.W. Scripps Recruits Gray
The E.W. Scripps Company appointed Oliver Gray as vice president of network sports and client partnerships, leveraging his experience leading Amazon’s NFL Thursday Night Football sales. The Bay Area Lyme Foundation named David Walsey executive director, bringing pharma communications expertise to...
Beyond Influencers: How Multicultural Creators Are Shaping the Future of PR
The article argues that the creator economy is moving PR beyond generic influencers toward multicultural creators who bring authentic cultural insight. These creators act as strategic partners, not merely message amplifiers, and their influence is measured by deep community engagement...
Communicators Drive Workplace AI Adoption
Generative AI is now a strategic priority, with 90% of surveyed leaders citing productivity and efficiency as primary motivators. A new Institute for Public Relations study shows communicators act as translators between IT and the broader workforce, often becoming early...
On the Move: Fitton Trades Porsche for Bentley
Bentley Motors announced Angus Fitton, formerly Porsche’s VP of PR, as its new chief communications officer effective March 16, overseeing global product, corporate and internal communications. At the same time, fintech firm Sunbit appointed Shachar Scott, ex‑Meta Reality Labs marketing leader,...