News From 5WPR, Finn Partners, and Edelman PR
A busy few weeks for the PR industry has kept public relations professionals occupied with staying abreast of the most recent developments. New partnerships create new opportunities, and so with that in mind, many industry leaders are rightly contemplating what the latest round of announcements portends for the future.
5W Public Relations is pleased to announce its new partnership with The Topps Company. Everyday consumers will recognize flagship confectionary products such as Ring Pop or Bazooka Bubble Gum. The Topps Company is also the exclusive trading card partner of Major League Baseball, and 5W will be handling this sector of their public relations and communications needs.
The Topps Company, founded in 1938, is a long-standing brand that has the staying power to maintain a competitive edge in today’s market. 5W Public Relations will be assisting with The Topps Company’s forthcoming 1 Collection launch as well as Opening Day for Major League Baseball.
In other news of roster changes and updates, marketing and communications firm Finn Partners has announced its acquisition of Moorgate Communications. Finn Partners is one of the fastest growing communications firms, having quadrupled in size since its founding in 2011.
Now, Finn Partners adds Moorgate Communications, which serves the financial services industry and is a key factor in the growth strategy for Finn. Moorgate will now operate as Moorgate Communications, a Finn Partners Company. Moorgate was founded in 2002 with an eye towards providing full-service options to financial institutions.
This acquisition will serve to further expand the footprint of Finn Partners. As noted by founding partner Peter Finn, “Moorgate Communications has an excellent reputation as a provider of highly specialized campaigns for international banks and other complex financial institutions. Bringing them on board is the perfect solution for us.”
In further expansion news, prominent firm Hill + Knowlton Strategies has added PR responsibilities for the Azerbaijan Tourism Board in 2019. The Azerbaijan Tourism Board is seeking to attract more tourists as it heralds itself as the “crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia.”
H+K will head up PR efforts with specially curated travel experiences aimed at those seeking unique excursions, wellness, adventure getaways, and cultural experiences. It will add hubs in both Moscow as well as Dubai to work with potential travelers and influencers from both locations.
American marketing and consultancy firm Edelman has severed its consulting ties with Gordon Campbell after news broke that an investigation was underway concerning an alleged sexual assault incident in January of 2013. At the time, Campbell was serving as a senior diplomat for Canada in the UK, a position he held from 2011 until 2016.
Campbell was involved in a consulting relationship with Edelman, where he was hired on a part-time retainer basis in July of 2018. “In light of the recent allegations, Edelman and Mr. Campbell have mutually decided to suspend their consulting arrangement until the police investigation in the U.K. is complete,” Edelman confirmed in a statement.
And finally, some changing of the guard at Next Fifteen Communications’ latest acquisition, the agency Text100. The co-founder of Republic Publishing, which was purchased by Next Fifteen in 2015, has announced his departure from the firm. In a LinkedIn post, James Beechinor-Collins has stated that he’ll be taking some time off before deciding on his next move.
During his tenure with Republic and, subsequently, Next Fifteen, Beechinor-Collins served as Executive Vice President and, most recently, chief digital officer, to which he was named in 2016.
This latest departure follows other notable staff changes after the merger of Text100 and fellow agency, Bite, by Next Fifteen. Text100 has also lost notable clients such as Lenovo and recently announced the closing of its office in Rochester, New York.
