The year only just took off, and PR specialists started the year with a bang. Read on to see what noteworthy break-ups, shake ups, and mergers took place since the beginning of 2016.
Weber Shandwick Makes Appearance in Nashville
Weber Shandwick, an internationally acclaimed PR firm, just put down roots in Nashville Tennessee. The agency recently bought a local marketing and communications agency, ReviveHealth. CEO of Weber Shandwick, Andy Polansky, explained that the firm had set eyes on Nashville for quite some time, due to a strong economy.
A specialist agency, ReviveHealth brings years of healthcare knowledge to the table. No stranger to success, in 2014, the agency climbed to number six on O’Dwyer’s, list of top health care public relations firms. Perhaps for this reason, the firm will retain its name, and operate as a subsidiary of Weber Shandwick.
The combination provides ReviveHealth with the ability to tap into Weber’s network of professionals. This includes not just reputable PR experts, but also 20 employees with doctorates who know both the business and the medical side of the health industry.
MWW PR Hires Former PR Guru for Samsung and MasterCard
Ked Mather, former communications manager for Samsung, and MasterCard, recently began his new role at MWW PR in London. The PR firm appointed Mather as a senior account director. In this position, he works with the agency’s more technical sectors, such as, finance, media, and technology.
Mather spent the last three years working as a senior communications manager at MasterCard’s UK and Ireland operations. Prior to this, he helped Samsung deliver its best PR results, since it first began sponsoring the International Olympics Committee.
Mather looks forward to achieving great things at MWW PR, as a member of a team with an independent approach and bold strategy.
Sloane and Sard Representing Finance Clients in Midst of Difficult Negotiations
Ally Financial, and Lion Point Capital, both engaged PR counsel following requests made by the activist hedge fund investor. The requests from Lion include taking new and strategic approaches that could involve selling the company.
Lion also requested two seats on the board of directors. While Ally, the biggest US auto-loan company, refuses to consider options like a sale, Ally holds the bid for board seats as reasonable.
Public relations firm, Sloane & Company, now represents Lion Point Capital as it pursues greater control of Ally. These efforts result from Lion’s contentions with a “gap between the company’s intrinsic value and its stock price.” In turn, Ally hired Sard Verbinnen & Co. to help protect its image as it undergoes what may become a difficult negotiation with Lion.
Huawei’s Agency Review Brings in New Names
Huawei recently added two WPP firms to its impressive PR support team. The electronics company hired both Ogilvy PR and H+K Strategies to work on the consumer PR support team as sales for its mobile devices picks up.
This decision follows a review, which the company conducted earlier, in 2015. Huawei selected Ogilvy PR to handle the company’s global communications activity. H+K Strategies will provide project support for launches and events, as Huawei attempts to grow sales and expand its hold on the market; especially in the U.S. market, which lags behind its European neighbor.
In addition to these new firms, Huawei also counts Racepoint, Burson-Marsteller, and W. Communications.
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