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| Brian Buchwald |
Weber Shandwick has formed a global intelligence division, which will use data and analytics to inform strategies that include the development of insight-driven, earned media storytelling opportunities. The division will be centered around what the agency is calling the A-Hub—a custom-built, AI-powered platform that it says can sift and sort billions of data points from thousands of data sources, enabling analysts to efficiently develop custom models that uncover insights and predict tangible outcomes. It incorporates earned and social media from a variety of data sources into its data stack, along with proprietary client and paid media data. “Instead of simply providing measurement at the end of a campaign, we’re developing effective, impact-driven programs based on insights from the start,” said Weber Shandwick’s head of global intelligence Brian Buchwald. The A-Hub is the latest in a series of tools and technologies the agency has designed, including Q, an enterprise platform that uses machine learning and AI to streamline a brand’s social customer service operation, and Mediaco Publish, a CMS specifically designed for brand publishing.
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Lambert & Co. has acquired Williamsville, NY-based Casteel Schoenborn Investor Relations & Corporate Communications. Casteel Schoenborn’s team is joining Lambert as part of the transaction, with principals Lynn Casteel and Jeffrey Schoenborn named managing directors. Casteel Schoenborn advises public and private enterprises, private equity firms and their legal and financial advisors in other industries on such issues as mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, public offerings and private placements, regulatory enforcement actions and litigation, governance issues, as well as special situations and crisis communications. “Their unique approach, enduring partnerships with management teams and vast experience set enhances our current client roster,” said Lambert & Co. CEO and founder Jeff Lambert.
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| Beatrice Seravello |
Baretz+Brunelle has created a NewLaw practice to be led by Brad Blickstein and Beatrice Seravello, who have joined the firm as partners. The new practice group will advise law firms and others in the legal ecosystem. Blickstein is also the founder and principal of Blickstein Group, an industry intelligence firm, which he will continue to own and operate. Before joining Baretz+Brunelle, Seravello managed the combination of global law firms Arnold & Porter and Kaye Scholer LLP. “Corporations are changing the way they buy legal services, so law firms have to change the way they market, sell and deliver them to stay competitive,” Baretz+Brunelle co-founder Spencer Baretz said. “No one is better equipped to help law firms and the other players in the market with this significant business challenge than Brad and Bea.”
DJE Holdings, parent of Edelman and Zeno, launches RUTH as an independent shop named after Ruth Edelman, mental health advocate, wife and longtime business partner of Dan Edelman.
New York City PR firms make up the largest slice of O'Dwyer's 147 firm overall ranking with 33 of 40 in the New York/New Jersey area either calling Manhattan their home or having a presence there.
Subject Matter+Kivvit, which joined forces in May, has rebranded as Avoq, an integrated shop with more than 200 professionals in Washington, New York, Asbury Park (NJ), Miami and Chicago.
While PR pros stationed at in-house comms. teams and those working for agencies share many of the same objectives, they also have markedly different top priorities, according to a recent report.
Edelman is cutting 240 employees or about four percent of its workforce to cope with the cooling down of the PR sector, according to a memo from CEO Richard Edelman.
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