Agency of Record

Firm closes out 2016 with a robust wave of growth and momentum Cutler PR, a global tech-focused public relations firm, has been named the agency of record by three new innovative technology clients: Zive, Glassbox, and Wise Data Media. Additionally, the agency is announcing an expansion of its New York City office with three new hires across multiple levels. Cutler PR’s new clients specialize in categories across the tech landscape. NYC-based Zive is a productivity software company and maker of the popular desktop app Kiwi for Gmail. Glassbox enables brands to record and analyze how customers and prospects are using... Read More >

Makovsky Releases Survey Results on Consumer Energy Decisions Makovsky is based out of New York and is one of the original founders of IPREX. They recently did a survey on how consumers make their energy decisions and who they trust. The survey revealed that consumers trust solar energy more than the rest and they get information about energy usually while watching the news on TV. The title of the report is How Americans Make Energy Decisions, and it gives insight into energy sources, consumption, and sources for consumer-valued information. The report was put together from survey information gathered from 1,000 adults... Read More >

Golin Signs as AOR for Horizon Organic Horizon Organic, owned by WhiteWave Foods, brought Golin on as their agency of record for PR purposes. Golin will work with Fallon (the ad agency for Horizon) in developing 2017’s holistic strategy as Golin also brings creativity to the strategy and campaigns. WhiteWave’s director of communications, Matthew Hargarten, said: “We have charged Golin with coming up with a PR plan to seize on cultural moments throughout the year to bring the Horizon brand into those relevant conversations. Media is a big part of that, but also social and content will be at play... Read More >

Finn Partners and the Stagwell Group: The Stagwell Group is purchasing a minority interest in Finn Partners and Stagwell’s CEO, Mark Penn, will become one of Finn’s board members. Both Firms will continue as before working separately, but they will create a separate PR agency held and operated jointly – Wye Communications. Wye will use people from both Finn and Stagwell (with 1350+ combined employees between them) and will be based in the U.S., serving clients around the world. Stagwell will maintain the controlling interest in Wye. The funds Finn receives from Stagwell for the purchase of the minority share... Read More >

MDC is in Expansion Mode Lotta Malm Hallqvist has been added as MDC’s European Managing Director, CMO, and she will focus on growing their business and building collaboration efforts in Europe for the global agency. Her supervisor is Bob Kantor, MDC’s Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer. MalmHallqvist came to MDC from Cheil Worldwide, where she recently was Global Chief Growth Officer and President. Malm Hallqvist’s new role allows MDC to accelerate growth opportunities in Europe and to support existing firms already in the network such as 72andSunny, Anomaly, Hunter PR, Kwittken, Varick Media Management, Allison+Partners, KBS Albion, Northstar, and The Media Kitchen. But MDC has been growing rapidly lately through acquisition of... Read More >

Former NBC News Anchor John Seigenthaler Joins Finn Partners Seigenthaler worked at NBC News for much of his career as a special correspondent and the NBC Nightly News Weekend anchorman. Over the decade or more with NBC, he worked on many national and international stories including national conventions, U.S. presidential campaigns, natural disasters around the world and various terrorist attacks in New York, London, Paris, and the Middle East. He joins Finn Partners’ New York office as their Senior Counsel, working with clients and agency teams in reputation management, media direction and training, crisis communications, and video and social media... Read More >

Lawsuit Against Fox News According to the Hollywood Reporter, Gretchen Carlson, after winning a 20-million-dollar sexual harassment lawsuit against Fox News, has signed with powerful Publicist Cindi Berger. Carlson’s sexual harassment lawsuit involved the former head of Fox News, Roger Ailes.  Carlson, with Berger’s help, plans to relaunch her career with some television appearances, a book, speaking engagements and philanthropy. Berger’s firm, PMK*BNC, also represents public personalities such as Barbara Walters. Megyn Kelly Also Leaving Fox News? In other related news, Megyn Kelly, whose contract with Fox News will expire at the network soon, has hired a publicist outside the... Read More >

Changes at PMK*BNC Jodie Magid Oriol, formerly of Lionsgate, joins PMK*BNC in the New York office as a VP and will be working in their new Entertainment Strategy and Development and Talent departments. At Lionsgate she worked in several position, most recently as VP of their theatrical publicity, working on such productions as the various franchises for Saw, the Expendables, and Hunger Games, as well as movies by Tyler Perry. Rachel Aberly, already at PMK*BNC has an expanded workload to include more multi-dimensional campaigns. But in the past, she’s worked on many well-known movies as well as awards campaigns. Some... Read More >

FBI & DOJ probe Yanukovych allegations including Podesta, Mercury, and Paul Manafort The FBI and the Department of Justice are looking into allegations of corruption during the administration of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. They made a point of saying it is a broad investigation and not particularly targeting individuals currently. The investigation is examining U.S. financial institutions and corporations who may have given aid to the Yanukovych during his time in office for illegal actions. According to reports from CNN, this investigation includes looking into work done by Paul Manafort, Donald Trump’s recently resigned campaign manager and firms he recommended... Read More >

Berk Comm adds 2 Luxury Resorts to Client Roster Berk Communications, an affiliate company of MWWPR, just picked up the PR business of both Baros Maldives and Milaidhoo Island Maldives, which are luxury resorts in the Maldive Islands. The Milaidhoo will be opening during the fall and is set on its own private island. Baros was the first luxury resort in the Maldives and started the top-tier travel to the Maldives trend. Good news for Walker Sands from Inc. Once again, Walker Sands made it to the top half of Inc.’s 5000 list. This list is the 35th edition of... Read More >