News from Kaplow, Walker Sands, MWWPR, and MSLGroup

Kaplow Communications Renews Lease

Kaplow Communications, a New York City-based PR firm recently renewed their lease at the Berkeley Building in the Bryant Park area of the city, though the renewed lease is for slightly less square footage (down approximately 2K sq.ft) than they previously controlled. Their offices between Fifth Avenue and the Avenue of the Americas will continue where they’ve been since 1999, occupying portions of both the sixth and seventh floors of the 18-story building.

Apple Pay v. Android Pay

Two recent surveys have been completed on how often mobile users have tried these two forms of payment, Apple reported the numbers are up this year from last according to their survey. Showing those who’ve tried Apple Pay at 23 percent recently compared to the previous year at 17 percent. Alternatively, Walker Sands, ran the numbers in a separate survey which showed the top option was Android Pay, and it was at 19 percent with Apple Pay only being used by 11 percent of those surveyed.

Whichever results are more accurate Apple Pay is extending their reach and opening the option to more users. All such payment alternatives should be a boost for those in the under 40 group, but those over 40 still shy away from using online and mobile apps to make payments. Mostly they cite security concerns when giving a reason. Apple Pay, Google Wallet, Android Pay, and most other major forms of payment apps are actually more secure than using a credit card directly according to the tech experts.

MWW PR Adds Matthew Malat as Their New Public Affairs Director

MWWPR’s Trenton, New Jersey office increased its numbers by one as Matthew Malat joins the firm. Malat is leaving his post as Director of Government Relations with New Jersey’s Chamber of Commerce. While there, he focused on lobbying economic development, healthcare, and budget issues for the state. He was a key factor regarding the Chamber’s work with the Coalition to Preserve Jobs and Our Constitution, Inc. – a $1.2 million push against a ballot initiative.

MSLGroup Adds New CEO to Their Chinese Offices

Faith Brewitt’s PR consultancy was previously acquired by MSLGroup through the Publicis Groupe network. Allowing her to be placed as the CEO in their Shanghai office overseeing the Greater China area. Brewitt has honed her skills working for some of the biggest and brightest, including Dell, Fleishman-Hillard, H+K Strategies, and Edelman (also in Greater China as well as Singapore, and the U.S.). She will relocate to Shanghai from Beijing where she previously ran her consultancy – Have Faith in Your Brand.

Guillaume Herbette, MSLGroup’s global CEO, said Brewitt will “turbo-charge and maximize” growth for the firm in China. “With her deep and varied background in public affairs, corporate reputation, sustainability/citizenship, NGOs, and government, Faith is the ideal partner to drive the collaboration with Publicis Communications and build end-to-end solutions for our clients’ business challenges.”