PR News from The Influence (New), Allison+Partners, WE Communications, and Creston
Alexandra Lasky of SHADOW to Launch “The Influence”
The Influence will open its doors after Thanksgiving and will oversee their first event in Miami Beach at Art Basel. Chad Weinman will partner Lasky in this new agency. Their company managed to get their website name, “TheInfluence.com,” even though it had been taken previously going back to 1999. Lasky made her name with SHADOW PR , working celebrity events for companies such as Armani Exchange, 10ak, and American Eagle.
Three New Partners at Allison+Partners
Three notables at Allison+Partners have upgraded their titles to “partner.” Lisa Rosenberg, David Wolf, and Jerry Zhu moved up the ladder recently. Rosenberg has been serving as chief creative officer since 2013. Before that she worked at RSCG Worldwide (now Havas) as president, and Porter Novelli for 20 years starting as an account executive.
Wolf has also been with A+P since 2013 as the China office’s managing director. His previous experience includes Burson-Marsteller’s Asia Pacific tech, Claydon Gescher Assoc. as COO in Beijing, and a stint as Wolf Group Asia’s president and CEO. His claim to fame with A+P is that he was the first of their employees in China. Zhu, also in the China office as their managing director, came to A+P when his tech and corporate communications firm (Century PR) was bought. Zhu also served as general manager at PPR, Australia’s largest PR firm, and with Hill+Knowlton, FleishmanHillard, and MS&L Group.
WE Communications and YouGov Release Findings from Stories in Motion Study
According to the new WE Communications study, Stories in Motion, earned media is still the best way to share content and build brands. 1,000 people in the U.S., U.K., and China were surveyed, and earned media is considered the most influential factor by 44% in the U.K., 47% in the U.S., and 62% in China.
Creston Sells Remaining Interest to Current Minority Shareholder DBAY Advisors
Creston’s board decided to sell all the shares to DBAY Advisors for £75.8 million, ending their status as a listed company. Nigel Lingwood, senior independent non-exec director, said it was because of uncertain market conditions and client/business factors. The deal should take about two months to complete, but client work will continue as usual.
The company has operated at a loss of £7.6 million for the latest fiscal year. Prior to the deal, DBAY had a 28% ownership in the firm which has assets that include Fever, Red Door Unlimited, and Nelson Bostock Unlimited as well as a subsidiary, RedWhiteBlue Digital Marketing Services Holdings Ltd.
