World Of PR Monthly Round-up
Magrino has been named the agency of record for viral prebiotic soda poppi. The agency will handle all PR efforts, including product launches, celebrity events with Alix Earle and Kim Kardashian, and partnerships with Pop-Up Bagel and Chipotle. Founded by Stephen and Allison Ellsworth in Austin, TX, poppi offers a low-sugar, low-calorie soda made from fruit juice and prebiotics. Available in 13 flavors, poppi can be found at major retailers nationwide.
5WPR has been named the agency of record for HomeRunPet, a brand of smart pet supplies. The partnership aims to boost brand awareness and online presence for HomeRunPet’s flagship product, the Drybo Plus, and generate media buzz around its pet drying solutions. HomeRunPet managing director Luke Opdyke expressed confidence in the collaboration, stating, “This marks a significant milestone in HomeRunPet’s journey. We are excited to leverage 5WPR’s expertise to elevate our brand and positively impact pets and their owners worldwide.”
Porter Novelli has strengthened its creative team with two senior hires in its strategic services division. Kam Ajerdi is the new US executive creative director, based in New York City. He joins from Zeno Group, where he was SVP, group creative director, and has also worked at Wunderman Thompson, Publicis Groupe, and Havas Worldwide. Rowan Adams is the new UK creative director, based in London, coming from Play, the PR agency he founded. These hires are part of CEO Jillian Janaczek’s ‘2024 PN Next’ strategy, which focuses on six capabilities: Data + Analytics, Strategy + Insights, Creative + Studio, Digital + Innovation, Earned + Influencer, and Paid + Platforms. This initiative aims to combine data-driven and digital-first approaches with creative solutions to tackle complex business challenges.
Cision has filed a counterclaim against Dow Jones, alleging breach of contract. Cision spokesperson Josh Vlasto stated that Cision denies Dow Jones’ allegations and intends to defend its rights. The counterclaim, filed in New York, accuses Dow Jones of 12 contract breaches and 20 misrepresentations. Dow Jones called Cision’s claims “unfounded,” asserting that Cision failed to act responsibly. The dispute involves Dow Jones’ partnership with OpenAI, which Cision claims violated their exclusivity agreement. After attempts to resolve the issue privately, Dow Jones filed a public lawsuit, which Cision argues harmed its business relationships. Cision seeks damages of at least $173,624,000—the same amount agreed upon in their original deal.
