O'Dwyer's August 2024 Financial PR/IR & Professional Services PR Magazine
HOW FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS CAN MOVE BEYOND PERFORMATIVE DEI
SUCCESSFUL EXECUTIVE VISIBILITY IN A TURBULENT NEWS CYCLE
EMPLOYERS
Employers fill the gaps in addressing racism where government and the media fail.
PRIVATE EQUITY PR DEALS DECLINE
Private equity buyers are accounting for a smaller share of M&A deals involving PR and marketing firms.
TRADE PUBS VITAL FOR BUSINESS LEADERS
Trade media informs business leaders, influences sales and drives growth. THE AI CONUNDRUM IN COMMUNICATIONS
Advancements in AI present a number of challenges for the public relations industry.
BUILDING FINTECH BRANDS
Why press releases and media relations are table stakes.
Communications pros must resist the temptation to use AI as a crutch to do our jobs.
WHY DID YOU DO THAT?
Considering the role emerging AI intelligence technologies should have in today’s communications strategies.
DOUBLING DOWN ON HUMAN TALENT
There’s no shortcut to relationship building in the world of financial services PR.
How PR pros can ensure that financial institutions move beyond performative DEI gestures.
Tips for successful executive visibility in today’s turbulent news cycle.
REAL ESTATE AND PR
Getting real estate pros good media attention takes solid public relations tools.
PROFILES OF FINANCIAL
& I.R. FIRMS
RANKINGS OF FINANCIAL
Despite optimism, inflation concerns linger
Americans got some good news in July, when the Commerce Department announced that the U.S. economy—as measured by Gross Domestic Product—had expanded at a 2.8 percent annualized rate in 2024’s second quarter, exceeding most economists’ expectations and double the rate recorded during this year’s first quarter.
It’s the latest sign yet that the economy is on the rebound. Hourly wages are up, the U.S. labor market remains strong, productivity outpaced expectations in 2024’s second quarter—meaning businesses made more money in fewer hours—and inflation continues to cool from its 2022 peak, suggesting that the U.S. may have dodged a recession and could be on track for a soft landing, a theory that was confirmed when Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled that interest-rate cuts might finally be coming in September, the first such cut in four years.
All reasons to celebrate, of course. Lower interest rates make it cheaper to borrow money from banks or get a mortgage; lower interest rates boost spending among consumers and businesses; lower interest rates means more cash in people’s pockets, which will undoubtedly influence how people vote in November. The reality, however, is that inflation, while on a downward trend, still sits at a stubborn 23-year high and is cooling at a rate slower than consumers would like—with lingering effects such as prices that remain significantly higher than they were just a few years ago.
Indeed, a series of recent reports suggest that despite the relatively healthy state of the U.S. economy, Americans’ optimism might be characterized as cautious, and whatever rehabilitated mood they might have regarding the job market or inflation or the state of their bank account hasn’t translated into increased spending.
According to new data released by marketing research firm WARC, consumer sentiment appears to be on the upswing—at least when it comes to how people feel about the state of their personal finances. More than half of North American respondents (52 percent) said they believe their personal finances will get better within the next six months, compared to 49 percent during the same period last year. A third (33 percent) think their personal finances will stay the same (compared to 35 percent last year) and 15 percent think things will get worse (compared to 17 percent in 2023).
Globally, the outlook is even more positive: 61 percent of people worldwide believe their personal finances will get better within the next six months (up from 58 percent a year ago), while 28 percent think their personal finances will stay the same (compared to 29 percent in 2023) and 11 believe their personal finances will get worse (compared to 13 percent last year). Younger consumers also appear especially optimistic: More than two-thirds of Gen Z (68 percent) and Millennials (65 percent) globally anticipate their financial situations will turn around in the next haft-year, with Gen Z more positive about their finances today than they were in pre-pandemic 2019.
And yet, a recent survey by retail data science platform 84.51°, which polled Americans about their shopping habits, suggests that consumers are more anxious about inflation than ever, as two-thirds of shoppers (66 percent) reported being concerned about inflation, compared to only 61 percent recorded during the same time last year and the highest percentage recorded by 84.51° since March 2023.
As a result of these fears, the 84.51° report confirms what most Americans already know: Shoppers are still modifying their purchasing behaviors and are regularly hunting for deals, suggesting that value messaging remains a winning strategy for food and retail marketers for the foreseeable future. Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of shoppers said they now look for sales and coupons more often than previously. More than half (54 percent) reported switching to lower-cost, off-brand items. More than half (51 percent) of shoppers said they’ve cut back on non-essential items like snacks and candy and the same percentage (51 percent) indicated that they plan to eat at home more often in the coming months. Nearly half (44 percent) said the state of the economy has compelled them to purchase fewer items during their grocery trips altogether, and a third (33 percent) said they’re now cooking items at home either from scratch or with limited pre-prepared foods.
The WARC report also suggests that, while spending on discretionary purchases may have ticked up above the COVID years, consumers remain price-sensitive, and as a result, spending has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. For example, only 27 percent of global respondents reported going on a domestic vacation in 2023, only 19 percent reported purchasing a plane ticket and only 12 percent reported going on a vacation abroad, all improvements from the pandemic years but nowhere close to the discretionary spending levels seen in pre-COVID 2019 or 2018.
In other words, things may have gotten better, and the worst might be over, but consumers remain skittish, so maybe don’t retire those coupon campaigns just yet.
— Jon Gingerich
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Employers beat media, government at addressing racism
Employers fill the gaps in addressing racism where government and the media have failed, according to a new Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report.
By Steve Barnes
Racism remains a major concern for most Americans, but according to the newly released Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: Business & Racial Justice, government and the media are failing to adequately confront the issue. Who are succeeding? Employers.
The report cites “My Employer” as the institution most trusted to address racial injustice, with 62 percent saying their employer does a good job at “addressing racism in this country.” That far outpaces the 38 percent who said they expected their employers to take the lead on this issue. With the government and the media, on the other hand, performance falls short of employee expectations. While 54 percent of survey respondents said that they expect the government to take the lead in confronting racism, only 23 percent said that they think it actually does a good job at that. As regards the media, 36 percent of respondents expected them to take a lead-
ing role, but only 28 percent thought they came through on the promise.
This is all happening in an environment in which the threat posed by racism is greater than ever. While 41 percent of those surveyed by Edelman in September 2020 said that they “have experienced racism,” that number rose to 50 percent in the new study.
It’s also taking place against the backdrop of a workplace environment in which diversity, equity and inclusion are in demand. More than a third of the respondents in this year’s study (38 percent) say that their feelings about formal diversity, equity and inclusion programs have become more positive in the past three to five years, as opposed to only 17 percent who say their feelings about such programs have become more negative.
The perceived value of diversity is also strong outside the workplace. More than three quarters (76 percent) of respondents said that when organizations have diverse
workforces, they connect better with the public, including such factors as: building trust with community and customers, making products that appeal to diverse customers and being less likely to make decisions that worsen racial injustice.
So, how can businesses step up their game when it comes to diversity? One way the report suggests is to invite input from across an organization. Another is to use plain language, rather than jargon, to deliver your DEI messaging. Plus, the report stresses making the positive business impact of DEI programs clear.
It also stresses that organizations put their money where their mouth is when it comes to developing DEI programs—and that those programs are often a key factor in keeping employees at an organization for the long term. For example, at companies with fewer (less than seven) DEI initiatives, 48 percent of Black respondents said they want to remain working for their organization for many years, while at companies with more DEI initiatives (8–16), that number rose to 80 percent.
Edelman surveyed more than 3,200 people for its report between May 9–24.
Private equity PR deals decline
Private equity buyers have accounted for a much smaller share of M&A deals involving PR and marketing firms in 2024 compared to last year, according to data from Davis+Gilbert.
By Steve Barnes
Private equity firms accounted for a considerably smaller share of M&A buyers in the PR and marketing communications sector in the first half of 2024 than they did in 2023, according to the new Public Relations Industry M&A Activity Tracker from legal firm Davis+Gilbert.
From January to June of this year, 33 percent of 52 completed deals (17) had private equity buyers, with 46 percent (24) going to independent buyers.
In the first half of 2023, private equity buyers were close to half of the total 55 completed deals (47 percent, or 26). Independent buyers matched their number from 2024, (24), but the slightly bigger overall deal number resulted in their representing only 44 percent of the total.
Public buyers, on the other hand, saw healthy growth from 2023 to 2024, going from 5 in 2023 (9 percent) to 11 this year (21 percent).
Trade pubs vital resource for business leaders
Trade media plays an essential role in informing business leaders, influencing sales and driving growth, according to a new survey.
By Jon Gingerich
Trade media outlets keep business leaders informed, promote industry growth, build brand equity and influence purchases, according to a survey conducted by New York-based agency Broadsheet Communications.
According to Broadsheet’s report, which surveyed B2B executives stationed at media and technology firms, business leaders believe that keeping up with industry goings on via trade publications is critical for maintaining a competitive edge: 87 percent of executives said they use trade media to gain industry intelligence, and 83 percent said trade publications are vital in helping them perform their jobs effectively.
Additionally, 82 percent of survey respondents said that industry publications also directly impact their own purchasing decisions.
Perhaps it’s for that reason that industry leaders also believe that being featured in media that covers their trade has a material impact on sales and boosts their own bottom line, as more than two-thirds (67 percent) said that having a presence in trade media directly influences their sales and revenue growth, with an additional third of that number stating it has a “great deal” of impact on their sales. Moreover, more than half (59 percent) of business leaders think being featured in trade pubs directly influences their brand’s overall market position and identity.
Perhaps it’s for this reason that, according to the report, nearly 70 percent of business leaders said trade publications and newsletters are their primary source for industry
news, and nearly 50 percent reported having at least one personal subscription to an industry publication.
Broadsheet’s “State of the Media” surveyed more than 150 B2B industry leaders in May.
Bigger deal prices were also a trend at the top of the field, with 12 percent of deals (6) in the first half of this year clocking in at more than $25 million (12 percent), compared with just two deals (4 percent) snagging that prices in the H1 2023.
North America was the busiest playing field for M&A dealmaking, going from a second-place 24 (43 percent) in H1 2023 to 30 (57 percent) in H1 2024. Europe dipped from first to second, going from 27 (49 percent) last year to 16 (31 percent) this year.
Integrated/full-service firms remained the top seller specialty, rising to 17 completed deals (32 percent) from 2023’s 12 (21 percent). Healthcare/life sciences firm also saw a jump from H1 2023’s eight (15 percent) to H1 2024’s 11 (21 percent). So far this year, there have only been two completed deals each involving digital/social media firms and public affairs firm (both representing sharp drops), and just one involving a travel & tourism firm.
This year’s tracker also introduces a tracker identifying the “Most in Demand Service Offerings” that sellers have available to clients. Despite its low completed-deal number digital & social media tops that list at 21, with branding following at 20 and content strategy & development and media relations just behind at 17.
The AI conundrum in communications
Recent advancements in artificial intelligence present challenges while simultaneously enabling the public relations industry to innovate and evolve.
Artificial Intelligence has been a game changer across various sectors, and public relations and financial communications are no exception. From enhancing data analysis and automating content creation to revolutionizing media monitoring and audience engagement, AI offers unprecedented capabilities that promise to make all forms of critical communications more efficient and effective. However, these advancements come with a set of challenges that are unprecedented for communications professionals, creating what can be termed as the “AI Conundrum.” As gatekeepers of brand reputation for companies of all sizes and stages of their business, the multifaceted impacts of AI on communications must be approached with excitement, curiosity and caution.
The promise of AI in communications
One of the most significant advantages of AI in communications is its ability to process vast amounts of data quickly and accurately. This capability allows communications professionals to gain deeper insights into audience behavior, preferences and sentiment. AI can analyze Wall Street analyst reports, media coverage, industry commentary and social media posts, to gauge sentiment towards a brand, corporate narratives, investment rationale or industry sectors. This helps communications teams understand how messages are being received, measure business outcomes against stated goals and adjust strategies accordingly, with accuracy and speed.
Additionally, AI allows for historical data to be analyzed and utilized to predict future trends and stakeholder reactions, enabling communications teams to anticipate issues and identify opportunities. This proactive approach can lead to more effective and timely efforts.
AI can significantly enhance the efficiency of narrative development and targeted distribution. AI-powered tools can generate initial drafts of press releases, investor talking points, owned content for newsroom or LinkedIn posts and other dayto-day communications quickly and consistently. This automation saves time and ensures a uniform message across different platforms.
Furthermore, the creation of personalized content tailored to different audience segments can be automated through the use of AI by analyzing stakeholder data. AI can
identify individual and demographic preferences, behaviors and reactions, allowing communications teams to craft messages that resonate with specific audiences.
Additionally, the predictive nature of AI improves media monitoring and identifies patterns that can enhance issues management and crisis communications. AI-powered, real-time monitoring tools can continuously monitor news outlets, social media platforms and other critical channels for brand mentions—positive or negative— and specific industry and market keywords that can impact businesses. Monitoring has always been a foundational element of communications and real-time analysis allows for prompt responses to emerging issues by identifying patterns and signals that often precede a crisis, such as sudden spikes in negative sentiment. This predictive capability enables communicators to take proactive measures to mitigate the impact of potential crises and, in some instances, avoid them altogether.
Whether it is public relations or financial communications, strategic targeting and engagement are keys to program success. AI can enhance audience targeting and engagement by providing deeper insights into audience behavior and preferences. AI can segment audiences more precisely based on various factors such as demographics, interests and prior consumer purchasing or investor trading behavior. This granularity ensures that tactics and technical execution reach the right people at the right time through the right communications channels.
Communications teams are continually asked by the C-Suite, Board of Directors and marketing colleagues how programs can be measured in order to assess performance. AI simplifies performance measurement and reporting, providing detailed insights into various, predetermined metrics and KPIs. The automation of measurement tools ensures the accuracy of the collection and analysis of data related to communications activities, to generating comprehensive reports on metrics such as reach, engagement, share-of-voice and sentiment. These reports provide a clear understanding of what’s working and what isn’t. AI can also correlate media coverage, investor and public sentiment and audience engagement with business outcomes such as trading volume, consumer purchasing, client reten-
By Ryan Barr
tion and, ultimately, brand reputation. This correlation provides a clearer picture of the financial impact of communications efforts and allows for a better analysis and maximization of ROI.
The challenges and concerns
While AI offers numerous benefits for communications professionals, it also presents challenges that cannot be ignored. The use of AI by all organizations (public or private) raises significant ethical concerns, particularly regarding data privacy. AI relies on vast amounts of data to function effectively, raising concerns about how this data is collected, stored and used. Companies, governments and the professionals that use this data in critical decision-making must ensure that they respect user privacy and comply with data protection regulations. AI is only as good as the data it analyzes: its effectiveness is heavily dependent on the quality of the data it uses. Inaccurate or biased data can lead to flawed insights and predictions, undermining the effectiveness of AI-driven communications strategies. Ensuring the accuracy and quality of data is a significant challenge. Additionally, the integration of data from various sources can be complex and time-consuming. Communications professionals must ensure that data from different platforms and systems can be seamlessly integrated for AI to provide comprehensive insights while ensuring it is coming from reliable and vetted sources.
What might be the most critical concern surrounding the use of AI is the over-reliance on automation. While AI can automate many tasks, can also be detrimental to communications efforts. At its core, communications is fundamentally about building trust and nurturing relationships, which often requires a personal touch ... a human touch. An over-reliance on AI can lead to transactional, impersonal interactions and a loss of the human element that is crucial for effective communications. AI also lacks creativity and empathy. While AI can analyze data and generate content, it can’t replicate the creative and empathetic
Continued on page 15
Ryan Barr
Building fintech brands
Why press releases and media relations are table stakes.
By Henry Feintuch
According to Statista, the Americas led the world in the number of fintechs—some 13,000+—as of 2024. The U.S. fintech market is valued at $4 trillion and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11 percent. Revenues in the sector are projected to grow almost three times faster than those in the traditional banking sector between 2022 and 2028. Compared with the six percent annual revenue growth for traditional banking, fintechs could post annual revenue growth of 15 percent over the next five years according to McKinsey.
What does it all mean for industry players, PR practitioners and marketers? There’s significant economic opportunity for the most innovative companies and those whose marketing and PR figure out how to capture the attention of the market.
How does a fintech startup find a way to stand out in that crowd? It starts with a business model focused on a particular type of service or marketplace niche that can benefit from disruption. Some examples of these types of companies include:
• Coinbase, which IPO’d in 2021, built its success as a user-friendly way to buy, sell and store crypto.
• Revolut offered a wide range of services to help consumers spend, send and save smarter.
• ClassWallet focused its payment solutions for compliance and control applications, initially in education and then more broadly for local and state governments and non-profits.
• TransferWise (now Wise) became the international money transfer partner of choice because it helped consumers avoid high exchange fees.
• Vaultavo removed the element of vulnerability by securely storing crypto.
Kiva used its customer base as a lending pool, offering low-cost microloans to underserved individuals and communities.
• SurgePays partnered with the nation’s convenience stores to provide financial and telecom products and services to underbanked and underserved consumers.
• Square allowed (very) small businesses to accept payments and then offered additional services as the companies grew.
With the business direction and fundamentals in place, bring on the marketers and the PR practitioners. By and large, fintech and financial services companies un-
derstand the necessity of a PR program. But for many CEOs, CMOs and those managing the PR function, PR = press releases and media relations. End of story.
Clearly, there’s so much more to that story!
Strategic PR is far broader than simply getting a profile in TechCrunch or pumping out a barrage of press releases whose only reason to exist is to keep shoveling out more releases to satisfy some arbitrary volume requirement. It’s critical to build thought leadership and open a conversation with those you’re trying to influence. PR programs shouldn’t just be about a product or funding announcement.
Here’s a checklist of core components of a prototypical fintech/financial services program. Every item might not be appropriate for each company—but as a whole—it provides a strong template for strategic PR program planning:
• Brand building/positioning.
• Thought leadership.
• Crisis communications plan.
• Industry analyst briefings (the original marketplace influencers).
• Bylined articles in key trades.
• Case histories, preferably with client involvement and attribution.
• Op-eds and blogs.
• Market research and surveys.
• Social media (B2C and B2B).
• Speaking platforms.
• Award and recognition programs.
• Trade show marketing.
• Association marketing.
• Hosted special events and webinars.
• Proactive media relations, not just press release follow-up.
• Sourcing breaking news opportunities with tools like editorial calendars and subscription services including ProfNet, HERO and Qwoted.
• Rapid response program.
• Courting and developing a relationship with hometown media.
Let me expand on a few of these: Brand building and positioning. A good PR firm—or in-house team—can help your fintech company create a brand voice and narrative that will serve to position your brand effectively in a crowded marketplace. They will work with you to craft a unique value proposition that speaks directly to your target audiences.
Thought leadership. You will, in all like-
lihood, be traveling to support your company including sales meetings, fundraising presentations, attending conferences and exhibiting at trade shows. Take advantage of your existing travel schedule to maximize opportunities. Why not try to get a speaking slot at that conference or meet with select reporters at that trade show or brief a local reporter on a key industry trend impacting businesses in their region?
Crisis communications plan. This is a critical necessity that every company should have but few want to invest in upfront (almost like personal life insurance). The best time to prepare a plan is before you ever need it (trust me on this). Fintech companies have access to their customers’ most sensitive data; a disciplined approach to crisis communications that leaves “no stone unturned” will help prepare you for almost any scenario you may encounter. When the crisis hits, it’s too late. Your brand reputation and company valuation can flush away in a day’s negative news cycle.
With a strategic PR program in place, there’s plenty of room for creativity or the “stunt” approach, which elevates a brand for 15 minutes of fame and lures new customers who often stick around long after the stunt is over. That has worked well in this vertical:
• Robinhood hyped its stock-buying app that allowed impulse purchasing: “The app swaps poise, patience and other hallmarks of careful investment for hyperbole, celebration and immediate gratification.”
• Wise sponsored an “Undies Run” through the streets of London as a way of protesting hidden fees at competitor’s banks.
• Acorns offers a $20 matching deposit when customers get a debit card, via a partnership with the wildly popular MrBeast.
• Changing Snoop Dogg’s name to “Smooth Dogg” to promote Klarna’s hassle-free payment solutions.
You can increase the ROI of any PR program by bringing your PR team in on company meetings and upcoming plans; a proper PR program for fintechs, whether conducted internally and/or with external support, requires 360-degree strategic
Continued on page 15
Henry Feintuch
AI has led to complacency among PR firms
AI technologies can help us elevate the PR industry to new heights, but communications professionals must resist the temptation to use it as a crutch to do
our jobs more quickly.
People love great stories. It’s why movies bring us to tears. And we’re in the business of storytelling. At our best, we captivate and influence buyer behavior. But the advent of AI represents a monumental shift that should concern us. Will communications be replaced by ChatGPT and other tools? Will it result in a cut-andpaste mentality that creates homogenous thinking and work product? Will we get complacent or has complacency already set in?
I won’t sugar coat things: AI has made our lives easier. AI for monitoring? Check. We’re using AI-powered tools to monitor and analyze vast amounts of data from various media sources, including news articles, social media posts and online discussions. Now we can stay updated on relevant news and trends in real-time, identify media mentions and track the impact of campaigns. Data analysis? Check. AI algorithms are enabling us to process and analyze large datasets to extract valuable insights. We’re able to analyze audience demographics, sentiment and identify patterns and trends. Consequently, we can gain a deeper understanding of our clients’ target audience, measure the effectiveness of their campaigns and make data-driven decisions. Content creation? Check. Exclamation point. AI writes for us: from announcements, blog posts, you name it. Natural Language Processing algorithms can even analyze data and generate written content that ensures we don’t commit any their/they’re violations.
This is pretty grim news for communications professionals, it seems, especially when you consider AI can even help manage crises by monitoring online conversations to detect crises and enable us to react quickly and proactively make informed decisions when problems arise. It’s a wakeup call: Creative thinking and originality will replace stale pitches and laziness. At least that’s how we see it.
Tools like Chat GPT can’t build relationships with reporters, let alone converse intelligently with them. AI content generation lacks a human touch and certainly can’t speak to a brand’s unique value to its stakeholders. And when it comes to ethical considerations, agencies, not unlike news organizations, must grapple with authorship and copyright issues.
Curiosity breeds creativity
By Scott Krady
To find and tell the great stories that our clients demand from us—whether it’s one that details how a cloud security platform thwarted a cyberattack against a leading retailer or a story of an innovative investment and estate planning strategy that is preserving wealth for the millions of baby boomers who are approaching retirement—we must go deeper. We must ask the questions, think about product attributes and our client’s target audiences and, just as Gordon Ramsay would, cook up a meal that delights our readers. As firms, we have a responsibility to clients to get it right. That means arming ourselves with professionals who possess different backgrounds, voices and perspectives. It’s why we want former journalists and industry pros. It’s also why we think it’s critical to use an array of communications mechanisms, including ones that are more visual than word-based, like infographics.
For investor relations pros, the uptick in shareholder activism, ESG and greater complexities in risk management at the board level were already raising the bar for storytelling. Investors today demand a more comprehensive view of companies: What is their carbon footprint? Do they violate labor standards overseas? Investors want to understand management, company culture and whether they are good corporate citizens. They want to understand not only whether a company they invest in can earn greater returns, but how and why it does so. Consequently, investor relations pros are tasked with communicating why the company is different from its competitors. Is it culture or something else, for example? That is the type of deep thinking AI can’t—and shouldn’t—do for us.
So, instead of leaning on AI, we must weave ourselves into the conversation. We are in an enviable position to create powerful narratives based on ideas so strong that they create the buzz and thought leadership that capture the minds and hearts of buyers. To do so, we need to be thoughtful and be willing to learn rather than rush to execute. Only then can we identify those game changing moments for brands and truly help grow companies.
AI has reduced some of the risk. It will save us time and allow us to check our work, testing ideas before they are shared with the world. We must be willing to take
risks and experiment. For example, we can make more informed decisions and strategize more quickly in response to emerging situations. We can automate data analysis and get a real-time measurement on post-crises messaging.
Empathy builds relationships
AI will not replace us, but it can make us complacent. AI enables and empowers us to do more. To avoid complacency, we must resist the temptation to use AI as a crutch to do our jobs more quickly. Rather, we must use it to do our jobs better and raise the bar for what we can do as professionals. Instead of perfecting that pitch, we must use our empathy to build relationships with clients, stakeholders and the media.
AI can be the boon the industry needs to go beyond media relations. Be it regulatory change or M&A, the business landscape changes continuously. AI may provide data and insights, but human professionals are better equipped to adapt and navigate uncertain situations. We’re in a position to truly act as strategic advisors providing counsel to clients and organizations. We must demonstrate that we can pivot strategies and uncover new opportunities. We understand the bigger picture and the impact of PR activities on overall business goals. We must show that we’re adaptable and can quickly respond to changing circumstances and emerging trends for our clients—before their competitors do. AI will be the tool to enhance our capabilities as communications professionals rather than replace us.
If anything, AI is what our industry needs to elevate to new heights. AI empowers us to put more energy into building trust and rapport with stakeholders. In so doing, we’ll be positioned to be the go-to resource when a client needs quick decision-making on a crisis situation. Rather than ruminate about a pitch or spend hours evaluating pickup, we can bring creativity and emotional intelligence to create truly impactful and authentic stories. We bring great thinking to clients, and the time to start using it is now.
Scott Krady is Founder and CEO of Magnitude, Inc., which works with a range of B2B clients in financial services, technology, professional services and verticals such as cybersecurity, climate and energy, fintech, SaaS, asset management, venture capital, consulting, law firm and more.
Scott Krady
THE AI CONUNDRUM
Continued from page 10
thinking needed to craft compelling narratives and build genuine connections with key stakeholders.
The path forward
Navigating the AI Conundrum requires a thoughtful and balanced approach. Communications professionals must leverage AI’s capabilities to enhance efficiency and effectiveness while addressing the associated challenges and concerns. Communicators must balance automation with humanity. While AI can automate routine tasks, it is essential to maintain the human touch in communications. We must continue to focus on building relationships, exercising creativity and applying empathy in our interactions with audiences. We must prioritize data quality to maximize the tactical effectiveness of communications activities.
AI is not a trend that will fade out of existence like 3D TVs, the idea of space elevators or Microsoft’s Zune … AI is here to stay, but the AI Conundrum in communications presents both significant opportunities and notable challenges. AI has the potential to transform how we live and work by enhancing efficiency, providing deeper insights and enabling more personalized
and proactive communication strategies. However, the concerns are real and must be carefully managed. By cautiously embracing the integration of AI into communications practices, balancing automation with human interaction, investing in training and ensuring data quality, communications professionals can navigate the AI Conundrum and harness its potential to drive successful and impactful communications strategies.
Ryan Barr is Managing Partner at Finn Partners.
BUILDING FINTECH BRANDS
Continued from page 12
programs. Companies need to develop a rounded program that will support business objectives and target the many natural audiences for your campaign.
By leveraging the full spectrum of services that innovative internal PR teams and external PR firms offer, fintech companies can build stronger brands, engage with key stakeholders and navigate the complex media landscape more effectively. This comprehensive approach ensures sustained visibility, credibility and growth in a competitive market.
Henry Feintuch is President of tech PR firm Feintuch Communications.
PR news brief
Prosek promotes ‘Davos
in the Desert’
Prosek Partners has signed on to provide communications and PR support for the Future Investment Initiative Institute, which organizes the annual “Davos in the Desert” each October in Riyadh along with other global conferences.
FII is a global non-profit organization that is governed by a board of trustees appointed by Saudi royal decree. It is subsidized by its founding partner Saudi Public Investment Fund, and its vision partner, Saudi Ministry of Investment,
The 8th FII conference is slated for October 29–31, 2024 and themed “Infinite Horizons: Investing Today, Shaping Tomorrow.”
Prosek on June 18 hosted a zoom with FII CEO Richard Attias and its clients to discuss attending/ speaking at FII8, telling people what they should know before attending the conference.
It also has offered Attias for interviews with media such as the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, BBC, Bloomberg, Axios, Reuters, Le Figaro, Barron’s, Politico, The Economist, Der Spiegel, The Telegraph and Forbes.
Attias was executive chairman of Publicis Events Worldwide before he launched his own company.
He has produced the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting at Davos, Clinton Global Initiative, UNESCO NGO Forum, Bloomberg New Economy Forum and The Africa Games.
Prosek’s letter of agreement with FII shows a monthly retainer of $53,460.
The firm will not contact US government officials on FII’s behalf.
Why did you do that?
Considering the role emerging artificial intelligence technologies should have in today’s communications strategies.
By Ken Kerrigan
When I was in the second grade, my homeroom teacher, Mrs. Reilly, walked up to my desk one morning. I didn’t like the look on her face. In fact, I was downright terrified. Within seconds, she’d taken hold of my arm and was dragging me to the principal’s office—the dreaded Sister Loretta. They both looked very angry.
Their anger was reasonable. The day before, one of the more popular kids in class, “Brian,” had told me he thought it would be fun if I punched one of our classmates in the stomach. I followed his direction and was now—with tears streaming down my face—deeply regretting it. When I offered “Brian told me to do it” as my defense, Mrs. Reilly screeched: “If Brian told you to jump off the Empire State Building would you do that, too?”
At just eight years old, the question struck me as crazy, but sensing the punishment that awaited me I immediately asked myself why I did what Brian told me. How did I not know it was wrong? How much influence did he have over me?
I think about that day a lot, especially when I’m being advised to do something significant, and my inner voice is expressing doubt, asking “Why are you doing that?” And I’m not alone. Business leaders are faced with the same quandary every day. Decisions have consequences, and while we all want a quick answer to the question “What should I do?” we need to take the time to reflect and make sure we have thought through “Why am I doing it?” and, more importantly, “What will be the likely outcome?”
That’s a lot of important questions. But if you read the headlines and listen to the chatter around the proverbial water cooler today, you may think that emerging artificial intelligence platforms are the answer. That somehow, if we can only craft the right “prompt,” the answer to all our strategic questions will magically appear. I think I’ve seen this movie before.
It all takes me back to the classroom. Not Mrs. Reilly’s, but rather my days as a liberal arts student at New York University. Specifically, my studies of Ancient Greece and the use of oracles.
Leaders in Ancient Greece often sought the guidance of oracles, who were believed to be the voice of the gods, to guide their decisions. In a way, their use of oracles is similar to the way communications profes-
sionals are using artificial intelligence today. AI helps us analyze vast amounts of data to better understand a company’s communications landscape so we can tailor strategies that will help drive business results. It tells us what to do, just like the oracles.
However, in Ancient Greece, an oracle’s pronouncements—much like some AI results on platforms like Chat GPT—could sometimes be cryptic and even ambiguous. Leaders would need to consult with priests and other influencers to understand the oracle’s true meaning and apply it to their situation. Maybe the modern-day equivalent is when the c-suite consults with their communications and marketing teams, who, like the priests in Ancient Greece, are interpreting the data—sometimes to support the business initiatives we think the client wants to implement.
Of course, we’ve all read the disclaimers: AI platforms can’t predict the future and we know they can’t account for unforeseen circumstances. We need to consider the limitations of data and use human judgment alongside AI insights. Just like the Ancient Greeks did, right?
Well, not so fast. Epic mistakes were made after taking the guidance of oracles too literally. Here’s an example: King Croesus of Lydia, famed for his wealth, consulted the Oracle of Delphi before launching a war against Persia. The oracle told the king, “A great empire will be destroyed. You will cross a river and destroy a great empire.” Croesus, interpreting the oracle’s reference to a “great empire” as his nemesis—Persia, confidently invaded. However, the “great empire” that was destroyed turned out to be his own, and Lydia fell.
Interpretation of the data before us, including the influence of unconscious biases—like that of King Croesus—can have severe consequences. The data or insights we get from AI need to be carefully interpreted before we act.
Recently, Bob Pearson, Chairman of The Bliss Group, provided testimony to the Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council of The State of Texas on the impact AI would have in the decades ahead. In his testimony Bob said, “Technology always feels ‘fast,’ yet its accomplishments are far more measured and require time for the applications to mature and for the public and private sector to get ready for its actual use, at scale.”
In his testimony, Bob pointed out that after the World Wide Web was intro-
duced in 1991, it took four years before a game changing offering like Amazon was launched. It took another 13 years before Facebook came on the scene. Today, both are among the most highly valued companies in the world.
It takes time for technology to mature, but things are moving significantly faster today. And that takes me back to AI, a platform that businesses are throwing enough gold at to make even the most audacious Ancient Greek king blush.
There’s no question that we live in an era of social influencers— and have for years. But what if the new influencer isn’t some paid B-list, social media celebrity, but rather AI itself. Pearson has suggested just that. And we’re creating that new reality in real time as AI platforms continue to “learn” by scraping existing content available on open-source platforms.
Does that scare you? It should. The oracles created a belief among the leaders of the day that they were channeling the voice of the gods, but the insights they shared were influenced by self-serving interpretations and even disinformation. Just like AI today.
We’re likely still years away from broadly available AI-driven applications, but rest assured those applications will arrive faster than Amazon and Facebook did. What will be the impact on the future of public relations? How will stakeholder trust in institutions shift? Will we see a utopian world where transparency rules the day or a dystopian one where it becomes nearly impossible to distinguish fact from fiction or just plain old lies. Are we already there?
Many Greek kings paid the price for an overreliance on guidance coming from oracles. Some lost everything. We can’t let that happen. “He told me to do it” didn’t work as an excuse with Sister Loretta all those years ago. Likewise, “A. made us think it was a good idea” won’t fly when a strategy fails and a client or their stakeholders ask: “Why did you do that?”
The effective PR counselor of the future needs to be armed not just with a command of data and analytics, but a deep understanding—combined with sound judgment and experience—for what it means and what should be done.
Ken Kerrigan is a Senior Vice President at The Bliss Group and Co-Lead of the agency’s Professional Services practice.
Ken Kerrigan
Why we’re doubling down on human talent
There’s no shortcut to relationship building in the world of financial services PR.
Alot has changed in the 22 years since I started my career in public relations, but we’ve always relied on curious, motivated, intellectually hungry people who live and breathe in the world of finance.
Our clients—and the journalists we work with every day—have little patience for agencies that aren’t on their wavelength. Their time is precious and their attention is finite. Many of our clients in the Registered Investment Advisor space have their sights trained on building growth flywheels and reaching for the one big advantage that institutional incumbents still hold over them: national, instantaneous brand recognition. And on the media side? It’s no secret that the media landscape has changed. Newsrooms are shrinking and many displaced reporters now leverage their expertise to create subscription newsletters for their followers. On top of that, many forward-looking financial platforms are becoming de facto media destinations in their own right. Financial services PR agencies need to meet media professionals where they are and work harder than ever to help tell the stories of their clients.
Everyone in this industry needs people who can read the room. There are more than six PR professionals for every journalist. Spray-and-pray pitching doesn’t work. Scroll down the social media timeline of any given reporter and you’ll find someone dunking on off-target outreach or an email from a PR novice over their skis who forgot to take the placeholders out of their copy-pasted pitch. And our clients have better things to do with their professional lives than re-explain the core tenets of their business to bewildered newbies on every campaign call.
Our success depends on people who know this industry inside and out. To that end, we’ve taken a page from the financial services industry playbook and pursued strategic growth when we find people who think like we do. Our recent acquisition of BackBay Communications underscores the power of human talent. BackBay brought over a litany of media relations and content marketing professionals with compelling experience and expertise. Veterans of the New York Times, American Banker, S&P, Celent and other prestigious financial PR agencies join our existing stable of experienced, results-driven professionals. They
By Joe Anthony
reinforce our strengths and bring their own specialties to the table. With BackBay, we have the reach, the capabilities and the relationships to support the ambitions of our clients on a whole new scale, no matter what the future brings.
We’ve been at this long enough to see that not all M&A deals are created equal. We’ve had front-row seats to financial services acquisitions that genuinely synthesize different work cultures and fields of expertise to create something greater than the sum of their parts. On the flip side, we’ve also seen acquisitions that turn out like Wile E. Coyote after he finally catches the Road Runner … in other words, they had no idea what to do next. They lurch around until the principals quietly file out the door and land somewhere else or create competing ventures.
We found kindred spirits. We wanted people who have put in the time and shoe-leather work to earn the respect of financial professionals. This industry is a big tent, and no single person can serve every corner of it. We can give our talent the capacity to lean into what they do best, and they, in turn, allow us to compete and win in new arenas.
That depth matters, because this industry is too big to tell just one story.
Not everyone is trying to dethrone the wirehouses. We see more firms define victory on their own terms by focusing on niche markets, targeting specific slices of potential clients and understanding them better than anyone else. We see private wealth firms and family offices working to stand out with blends of concierge service and ancillary offerings that were nearly nonexistent 10 or even five years ago. Financial services PR needs to equip itself to understand and tell these emerging stories as well. Similar examples of this evolution dot the landscape in private markets, asset management, wealthtech and more.
I want to note that our doubling down on human talent is happening alongside our agency’s heavy investment in generative AI technology. We learned very early that tech innovation doesn’t have to come at the cost of human talent and relationships. Again, there’s no shortcut to relationship-building. We’re not using chatbots to spam reporters with generative gibberish. Instead, we have developed and tested our own best practices and safety measures.
Our entire agency goes through AI training sessions twice every week, and many of those sessions are led by our own account teams who understand this technology’s strengths, its limits and, in many cases, have developed their own custom workflows and apps to bring new efficiencies to their work.
This is what I mean by giving human professionals the resources and the mandate to go forth and kick ass. We’re reaping the benefits of a work culture that encourages PR professionals to do their own research, find what moves the needle and share what they’ve learned for everyone’s benefit.
No matter what the future brings, PR lives and dies on meaningful connections and media relations. We’re here to help journalists do their work and to help our clients share their stories with the world. The tools and techniques we use will certainly change in the years to come. But the right people, working together, can rise to the challenge with authenticity, trust and responsive service.
Joe Anthony, President and Co-Owner of Gregory FCA, has led the firm’s financial services unit since 2003.
PR news brief
Decker Royal reps TTC in Apollo deal
Decker Royal represents The Travel Corporation as the more than 100-year-old family-owned tour operator is acquired by New York-based Apollo alternative asset manager.
TTC owns 18 brands, including Trafalgar, which is the world’s No. 1 escorted tour operator; Contiki, youth travel; Uniworld Boutique River Cruises; and Insight Vacations.
“For more than 104 years our family has built TTC into an industry leader known for exceptional service and innovation,” said TTC chairman Brett Tollman. “Without a next generation to lead TTC, the time has come in our strategic succession plan to select a new owner with a proven track record and who shares in our vision and customer-first values.”
He’s confident that Apollo will drive the TTC’s business forward “to meet growing global demand for touring, river cruising and specialist and adventure travel.”
Apollo’s Michele Raba said the firm, which has $671 billion in assets under management, is eager to build on TTC’s legacy and drive it into the next chapter of growth.
Decker Royal’s Cathy Decker and Stacy Royal handle TTC, which is based in Orange County, CA.
Joe Anthony
Integrating PR with government affairs
When it comes to policymaking, financial services companies often utilize the services of government affairs specialists and lobbying firms, which can lead to mixed messaging and missed opportunities. What’s needed instead is a collaborative environment where PR and government affairs work together.
The financial services sector operates within an increasingly complex regulatory landscape. New legislation, proposed policy changes and ongoing debates about industry practices all affect a company’s operations and standing with the public—and also offer opportunities to build visibility and trust in a brand.
A 2022 study by the FINRA Foundation found that 72 percent of financial services executives believe government regulations have a “high” or “very high” impact on their business strategy. To manage this, financial services companies may have both government affairs specialists and lobbying firms to work on favorable policymaking. This is a sound approach, ensuring that experts who can navigate legalese and the halls of Congress are on the front lines.
However, the communications strategy around government regulations is all too often siloed and separated from decision-making in public relations programs. While this separation may be easier to manage internally, it weakens the overall communications function of the company, creating pitfalls and missed opportunities. Only by bringing PR and GA together can financial businesses maximize the impact they can have on these issues.
Internal integration
Financial regulations are nuanced and require careful interpretation, and many organizations are subject to multiple overlapping jurisdictions. As a result, government affairs and lobbying teams are typically comprised of lawyers who interpret the regulations and communicate internally to stakeholders which regulations are most important.
PR professionals typically lack the training, time or experience to have a sufficiently deep understanding of the regulatory environment and risk misrepresenting a company’s position on critical issues. What PR professionals do have, however, is knowledge of how to leverage the media to support the effort by influencing regulators, advocacy groups, elected officials and their constituents.
In an industry where public trust is paramount, collaboration with government affairs teams, which closely monitor legislative developments, helps ensure PR messaging aligns with the company’s stance on regulations. This synergy can be seen in how major banks, facing increased scrutiny of lending practices, have proactively worked
with their PR teams to address responsible lending and financial inclusion concerns.
By working with government affairs specialists, PR professionals can gain insights into the ongoing conversations financial services organizations are having with policymakers and regulators. This knowledge will empower them to develop messages that resonate with the public while accurately reflecting the company’s commitment to responsible practices within the established regulatory framework.
Building a media-friendly message
As mentioned above, any PR professional who has taken the time to wade through a presentation built for a congressional committee knows that the messaging and structure of government affairs is very different from what the media is looking for. The legal language put together by GA professionals needs translation for a wider, less well-versed audience—both media and consumers.
The first job is ensuring the technical terms used will be understood. This might require using simpler language for some, providing examples or even creating a glossary of terms that reporters can use for easy reference.
The second job is formulating an argument structure. The PR mandate is to use persuasive language that makes both rational and emotional arguments to the reader. While there may be some emotion in government affairs products, it certainly isn’t front and center. PR professionals are skilled in showing how proposed or current regulations are hampering the growth of a business sector—or, more importantly, harming the American consumer. Through emotional language and compelling examples, PR can add a new dimension to the argument. When it comes to the rational argument, GA has it in spades. Sometimes, it’s actually too much. It’s not uncommon for a GA team to cite six statistics from four studies—all dutifully footnoted. This is anathema to PR, where only one or two examples are needed to do the job, or you risk losing the reader.
Once the language is tuned up, PR teams must have the GA experts double-check the work to ensure nothing conflicts with their efforts or was inadvertently misrepresented. After signoff, you’re ready for the media.
Taking the message to the media
PR teams can help the GA effort by sourcing media opportunities that take advan-
tage of policy and political moments that will be important for the industry. This could be a hearing held by the Senate or a set of proposed regulations from the Securities and Exchange Commission. With that foreknowledge and the right language, high-profile media opportunities can be secured on broadcast outlets.
A spot on “This Week” with George Stephanopoulos is hard to come by, but there are shows hosted by Bloomberg, CNBC and Fox Business that are more influential in the business community. If you can explain to them how developments in Washington will impact an industry, you’re already in a good position.
By Alex Goss Alex Goss
Similarly, the primary audience for government affairs teams is elected officials and their staff. Messages that are important to them are also important to consumers. As PR professionals, it’s our job to frame the message in a way that reporters of different beats will care about, whether it be from a technology angle, impact on personal financial planning or even employment in a state or city. This opens up a wide variety of media targets—from vertical industry publications and newsletters to local news and radio—to amplify your message.
Celebrities, foreign dignitaries and national elected officials often duke it out to get space in the opinion pages of The Washington Post and The New York Times. But if you take a step back to recalibrate, a regulations-oriented message can open up more possibilities for submitting op-eds in a variety of major newspapers or syndicated services. Often, reframing an argument to focus on how the industry that will be affected will generate more visibility for a brand than winning the coveted spot in the national outlet.
Siloed communication is always detrimental in the dynamic and often complex world of financial services. By fostering a collaborative environment where PR and government affairs work hand-in-hand, financial services companies can present a unified voice that builds trust, navigates challenges and ultimately positions them for success.
Alex Goss is a Director at Stanton.
DEI in financial institutions
How public relations pros can ensure that financial institutions move beyond performative DEI gestures and start putting money where their mouths are.
By Vic Baker
The finance industry has recently faced increasing scrutiny over its commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Despite vocal commitments to DEI principles, many large banks and Registered Investment Advisors need more meaningful implementation. According to a 2020 study by McKinsey & Company, while 87 percent of companies say that DEI is a priority, only 42 percent of employees see their companies as effective at delivering on these promises.
Evidence of inconsistent DEI implementation
A major issue in the finance sector is the gap between stated DEI goals and actual practices. Research in 2021 by the Harvard Business Review highlights that DEI initiatives often remain superficial, focusing on symbolic gestures rather than systemic change. For instance, communications professionals are often charged with touting the financial institution’s commitment to DEI during culturally significant moments like Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth, but this rarely translates into sustained efforts or structural changes within the organizations.
Hiring and promotion practices
Financial institutions need to overhaul their hiring and promotion practices to move beyond lip service. This puts communication professionals within financial institutions in a disingenuous position. Evidence suggests that traditional recruitment methods often perpetuate homogeneity. A 2020 study in the Journal of Business Ethics found that diverse hiring practices, such as blind recruitment processes and inclusive job descriptions, significantly increase the likelihood of hiring women and BIPOC candidates.
EquitiFy, with its team of expert strategists, has worked with various organizations to enhance its DEI initiatives. EquitiFy has recommended and helped implement strategies beyond surface-level changes by assessing an organization’s DEI growth curve, ensuring meaningful progress. For instance, implementing mentorship and sponsorship programs—all of which are extremely positive for public relations professionals to promote—has proven effective in retaining and promoting diverse talent. These programs provide ongoing support and clear pathways for advancement, crucial for creating an inclusive workplace.
Diverse board roles
The composition of board directors is another area where financial institutions can demonstrate genuine commitment to DEI. According to a 2021 report by Deloitte, companies with diverse boards are more likely to outperform their peers financially and operationally. However, achieving this requires more than token appointments; it necessitates a strategic approach to board diversity, including setting measurable goals, actively seeking diverse candidates and ensuring all board members have equal opportunities to influence decision-making. This also includes making these diverse board members outwardly visible via the marketing communications team.
EquitiFy has seen great results in organizations that genuinely wish to make a difference. By focusing on top-down implementation, EquitiFy ensures that leadership commitment sets the tone for the entire organization, embedding DEI values in every aspect of corporate culture.
Communicating DEI commitment
Financial organizations that genuinely practice what they preach regarding DEI need to communicate their efforts transparently and authentically. This involves: Public reporting. Regularly publishing detailed reports on DEI metrics, including hiring, retention, promotion rates and pay equity. This transparency holds organizations accountable and builds trust with stakeholders.
Authentic storytelling. Sharing real stories of diverse employees and leaders within the company, highlighting their journeys and contributions. This can be more impactful than broad statements and humanize the company’s DEI efforts.
Engaging in thought leadership. Actively participating in and contributing to industry-wide conversations on DEI. This includes sponsoring DEI research, hosting conferences and collaborating with nonprofits and advocacy groups like All Raise. Community involvement. Demonstrating commitment through community engagement and partnerships with organizations that promote DEI. This shows that the company is invested in broader societal change, not just internal metrics.
Importance of accountability through KPIs
Communications professionals can be empowered to emphasize the importance of accountability through Key Performance
Indicators with leadership to ensure the DEI message they are sharing with various stakeholders and members of the media is authentic. KPIs provide measurable benchmarks that ensure DEI initiatives are implemented and effective. By setting and tracking KPIs related to diversity hiring, promotion rates, pay equity and employee satisfaction, organizations can tangibly demonstrate their progress and commitment to DEI.
Elevating thought leadership
To elevate thought leadership on DEI publicly, financial institutions can:
Publish research and insights. Regularly release white papers and case studies that showcase successful DEI initiatives and their impact.
Speak at industry events. Ensure that diverse voices within the company are represented at major conferences and forums.
Vic Baker
Leverage social media strategically. Use social media not just for promotional posts but to engage in meaningful dialogues on DEI issues, share insights and respond to current events promptly and thoughtfully.
Financial institutions must move beyond performative DEI gestures and embed diversity, equity and inclusion into their core operations and culture. With professional strategic guidance, these institutions can adopt transparent practices, authentic communication and active community engagement to demonstrate genuine commitment and lead the industry toward meaningful change.
Dr. Vic Baker is the CEO and Founder of EquitiFy, providing strategic planning, training and implementation in leadership, organizational development, performance, diversity, equity and inclusion.
Kekst CNC handled Landbridge’s initial public offering as its shares rose as much as 23.5 percent on their first day of trading on June 28. Shares opened at $19.
Landbridge owns 220,000 acres across Texas and New Mexico in the oil and natural gas-rich Permian Basin region.
Occidential Petroleum, ConocoPhillips, EOG Resources, and Mewbourne Oil are among the energy giants that are drilling on Landbridge’s properties.
Five Point Energy, a private equity firm that invests in energy, environmental water management and sustainable infrastructure companies within the Permian Basin, founded Landbridge in 2021. Landbridge’s shares are currently trading at $23.94.
PR news brief
Kekst CNC works Landbridge IPO
Leadership visibility strategies
Tips for successful executive visibility in today’s turbulent news cycle.
In today’s news cycle, turbulence is the only guarantee. As if the current environment wasn’t challenging enough, the overlay of geopolitical issues and one of the highest concentrations of global elections in history will further muddle the discourse and add emotion to the already high stakes of visibility in the news. For leaders and the companies they represent, breaking through with brand messaging is more challenging than ever, and there’s increased pressure to take part in vital societal conversations, instead of sitting comfortably outside of the greater cultural context.
Business leaders have a responsibility to their stakeholders to be the human touch for their organization in this era of world-shifting discourse. We have progressed into a culture that demands companies live up to the values they claim as corporate citizens, putting words into action. That’s a lot of pressure for executive leaders who are balancing diverse interests from stakeholders at all angles.
When the microphone is in your hand, you have one chance to get it right.
It may feel vulnerable to think of your own executive visibility with the same level of business strategy and care as your organization’s external communications. But the role you play is crucial, and how you carry yourself can have lasting effects on the public perception of the company you represent.
Taking a proactive approach to your executive eminence builds trust between you and your company’s stakeholders, better prepares you for crisis and can contribute greatly to your own career trajectory, wherever you find yourself on your leadership journey.
Following are three key areas to focus on.
Define your ‘swim lane’
Your career has led you to this moment; you have a history of resilience, experience and expertise that supports your role and responsibilities as a leader. Of course, however, you can’t be all things to all people.
When you think of the factors that drive your work, the topics that you know inside and out, make those paramount to your own visibility strategy. The content you place in front of your audiences can and should reflect your interests and experience.
Work with your fellow organizational leaders to define your individual platforms—this will generate consistency
By Chelsea D’Amore
among which voices represent the organization in key conversations.
Organize the hierarchy of your messaging priorities alongside the goals of your business and determine the channels you’ll use to deliver them.
Make social media a tool, not a chore LinkedIn is undoubtedly the top social media outlet for professional connections. Beyond its infrastructure for job hunting and networking, LinkedIn has also become a place where company leaders can share a deeper look into their day-to-day. LinkedIn claims to have more than 8 million C-Suite leaders on the platform. If many of those profiles are lying dormant, it’s a missed opportunity to connect with key audiences.
Lean in to how you use social media in your personal life and adapt similar habits for your professional profiles. Your profile needs to be authentic to you, a balance of representing the organization and representing your own individual leadership brand.
That said, there should be a strategy behind your content stream. Ask for help— while the content needs to be driven by your voice and your experiences, a partner savvy in the inner workings of social platforms can help maximize how your format your content and deliver it to your network. Strong message delivery takes practice Don’t be shy about going “back to basics” on presentation and media training. Everyone can benefit from a refresher.
Effective presentation and media training involves:
Setting aside time to review best practices and techniques like bridging, which is a style of connecting ideas together to ensure you hit the most important talking points.
Practicing brevity. A long-winded answer isn’t necessarily a better one. The more comfortable you are with your talking points, the easier it’ll be to hit them succinctly and clearly
Understanding the rules of engagement. A media opportunity is unique from other types of communication. Journalists have individual styles, but all should adhere to a certain level of editorial ethics. They’re focused on the newsworthiness of your organization’s story, not the sales potential
In times of crisis, these skills are especially imperative. It’s known that “no comment” doesn’t cut it anymore. Transparency is paramount. Your values will be challenged and you won’t be able to please everyone no
matter what you say—so focus on nailing your message rather than creating a perfect response that doesn’t exist.
Working with communications experts to develop a messaging framework and thorough risk matrix is step one, giving yourself an organized point of reference to train against. This is your “safety net,” your “guiding light” for representing the core interests of your organization.
Understanding what topics are high risk for your organization empowers you to gather the facts that will help you adequately address these issues when asked.
Then, rehearse. Practice what you’ll say under pressure so that you never have to feel on your back foot.
Given the constantly shifting media environment, preparation is essential for ensuring a stable and empathetic voice for your company, no matter where you find yourself in the conversation. It’s clear when an executive is prepared and has taken a purposeful approach to their social platforms, media activity and other key stakeholder engagements. Getting it right is more important than ever, so make sure you take the steps to benefit from a thoughtful executive visibility strategy, even in times of such great change and turbulence.
Chelsea D’Amore is an Account Director at G&S Business Communications.
PR news brief
JPA Health acquires London’s akt health
JPA Health has acquired London’s akt health communications, which has 23 staffers, to expand the European capabilities of the Washington-based firm. akt founders Anna Radnavale, Katy Foy and Tim Cockroft have joined JPA as Executive Directors.
The British shop handles high-profile clients such as Bristol Myers Squibb, GSK, Gilead, Chiesi, Takeda, ucbPharma, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, and the UK National Health Service.
JPA CEO Carrie Jones said akt’s deep understanding of the complexities of the European market will enhance her firm’s ability to deliver impactful healthcare solutions on a global scale.
The combined company has about 150 staffers offering corporate communications, brand marketing, patient engagement and scientific storytelling.
The akt deal follows JPA’s acquisitions of BioCentric (clinical communications firm) in May, and True North Solutions (commercial, clinical and medical affairs shop) in October 2023.
JPA took the No. 12 slot in O’Dwyer’s healthcare rankings with fee income of $24.3 million during the past year.
Chelsea D’Amore
Real estate and PR
Despite public perception, the majority of real estate professionals do their jobs as well and honorably. But getting them good media attention takes a solid client and the use of solid public relations tools.
By David Grant
Real estate often gets a bad reputation. For many, it brings up images of crookedness, bottom feeders and sleaze.
But after representing dozens of real estate professionals for decades, I can report that the great majority of them are, in fact, honorable visionaries who do their jobs as well and as honorably as—well, most PR people.
Getting them good media attention helps. To do that requires a solid client—and the use of solid public relations tools.
For example, the owners of the Capri, a high-rise apartment building on the east side of Manhattan, retained us to increase the property’s visibility. After meeting with the client, we were able to place the Capri in “The Hunt” column of the New York Times. In addition, a Capri representative was interviewed by the reporter for an online video that appeared on NYTimes.com. The article and video produced just what the client wanted. A prospective home buyer had been searching for his dream property for over a year. After reading the Times article, he made an appointment to visit the sales center that weekend—and bought an apartment in the seven figures.
And when Sony informed real estate developer Sherwood Equities—our client and also a principal owner of One Times Square, the historic Manhattan building where the New Year’s Eve ball is dropped— that it would not be renewing its lease on the extraordinarily high-profile space where its Sony “JumboTron” was displayed, the client had several concerns. He feared that such a potentially big story as the Sony defection would leak out without direction, making it difficult to put in proper perspective, as well as adequately represent his point of view.
Accordingly, I recommended a strategy with two goals. First, we wanted to prevent a negative leak; second, we wanted to alert others that the famous sign space would now be available. With this in mind, we proposed a selective and carefully orchestrated publicity campaign. The result was not only that our client was repeatedly quoted, placing the Sony decision in proper perspective, but that NBC read—in a major story we placed in the New York Times about the availability of the space and then signed a lucrative multi-year contract with our client to rent the space for its own hightech display.
To help market 60 Pineapple Street, a landmark cooperative conversion apartment building in Brooklyn Heights, we undertook a publicity campaign on behalf of MJR Development Corp. In addition to trade publicity, and placing a variety of press releases in mass media, we were able to arrange a very favorable New York Times Friday residential column, and—some weeks after that—a New York Times Sunday real estate section lead article covering the inducements being offered by developers in Brooklyn Heights. The client told us he took binders on one-fourth of the building the weekend after the Friday column appeared. That building became the most successful in its area.
One last example: On behalf of the Durst Organization, we undertook a campaign to publicize a housing renovation it was doing in Manhattan. As a result of our efforts, feature articles on the project, most with impressive photographs, appeared in the New York Times, the New York Daily
News, the New York Post, Manhattan Cooperator, the New York Law Journal, the Real Estate Reporter and Real Estate Weekly. The articles—especially those in the New York Times, News and Post—brought a great deal of traffic to the on-site sales office. In fact, on the Sunday that the New York Times story appeared, hundreds of potential buyers came to view the apartments. The developer also used the articles as reprints to hand to people who came to the project.
Grant
The lesson? Work for good real estate people, know the media who cover real estate and tell your clients’ stories with tried and true PR tools. Your clients will be pleased, and so will your—and their—bottom lines.
Greg Hassel, Ken Kerrigan, Megan Tuck, Miles Hill, Bill Smith, SVPs
Adam Schwartzman, Alana Gold, Meghan Powers, GVPs
Anna Robinson, Ben Davis, Courtland Long, Janice Miller, Jean Logerfo, JP Letourneau, Marisha Chinsky, Meghan Busch, Quintin Maidment, VPs
The Bliss Group is an insights-driven marketing communications agency that blends data science with the art of storytelling to target priority audiences with precision, empathy and purpose. Grounded in data and guided by deep expertise, our award-winning financial services practice delivers strong results for some of the biggest names in retirement, insurance, investing, banking, private equity and fintech. Powered by advanced analytics and informed by experience, we tell stories that reach both B2B and B2C audiences across mediums that inspire action and make an impact. Our consultative approach and full-funnel marketing communications delivery model bring real, tangible results that push our clients and the industry forward.
BOSPAR
Headquartered in San Francisco, we serve clients around the world. 844/526-7727 (844/5-BOSPAR) results@bospar.com www.bospar.com
Curtis Sparrer, Chris Boehlke, Tom Carpenter, Principals
Is it us, or do all these agency descriptions sound alike?
“We’re an integrated global communication and marketing agency that BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.”
That’s not the thinking that’s going to get you noticed.
That’s where we come in.
The PR industry and business world have noticed Bospar for our work in tech, healthcare, social media, content marketing and PR:
• Newsweek: America’s Best PR Agencies in 2024
• Financial Times: Americas’ Fastest Growing Companies in 2024
• Inc.: Inc. 5000 Regionals: Pacific list in 2024
• PRWeek: Best in Corporate Branding winner in 2024
• PRNews: Experiential & Event PR Award winner, Nonprofit Award winner for Crisis Management, Digital Awards for Branding and Launch Campaigns winner in 2024
• Fortune: America’s Most Innovative Companies 2023—the only PR & Marketing Agency to join the ranks!
• Inc.: Fastest Growing Companies in the Pacific Region 2023
• Financial Times: America’s 500 Fastest-Growing Companies list in 2023
Bospar is a team of politely pushy tech PR and communications professionals with purpose
and relentless joy for what we do. Former journalists from social and traditional media and marketing, influencer, financial, SEO, and public affairs experts make up our experienced team. Because of this, our domain expertise is wide and far-reaching in areas like AI, healthcare, fintech, retail, consumer, cybersecurity, education, and many more. We build strong media relationships and draft attention-grabbing written content and social media posts that drive action. We craft compelling pitches that secure headlines and interviews, develop effective crisis communications strategies that keep problems at bay, and launch PR campaigns grounded in strategy and infused with creativity. With breakthrough coverage and visibility, our clients speed ahead— no “BLAH, BLAH, BLAH” about it!
CALIBER CORPORATE ADVISERS
22 W. 38th St. New York, NY 10018 888/550-6385 harvey@calibercorporate.com www.calibercorporate.com
Grace Keith Rodriguez, CEO Kristie Galvani, COO Harvey Hudes, Founder & CIO
Caliber Corporate Advisers is the premier marketing and communications partner exclusively focused on financial services & fintech, insurance & insurtech, real estate & proptech, and related professional services.
Integrating seamlessly with clients, our team brings deep industry expertise to deliver best-in-class strategies in public relations, content marketing, social media and digital advertising. From established global brands to dynamic startups, our clients trust us to tell their stories with passion and precision. As a remote-first firm with over 40 skilled professionals, Caliber’s commitment to a vibrant and supportive culture has earned recognition as a Best Workplace by Inc. magazine. Additionally, Caliber was named by the Financial Times as one of the fastest-growing companies in the Americas.
COGNITO
1040 Avenue of the Americas 14th Flr., #14B New York, NY 10018
646/395-6300
www.cognitomedia.com
Instagram: @cognitomedia X: @CognitoMedia
Angela Byrne, US Director of Business Strategy angela.byrne@cognitomedia.com
Cognito executive staff: Sam Barber, Senior VP; Taylor Fenske, Senior VP; Andrew Marshall, Vice Chairman; Jade Bestley, Dir.; Angela Byrne, U.S. Director; Doug Hesney, Senior VP.
Cognito is the global communications agency for finance, technology and the climate transition. We partner with organizations, from established leaders to startup challengers, to advise on how to manage reputation, handle threats and build value in competitive and disrupted markets.
With creative content and an understanding of channel complexity, we protect and grow our clients’ businesses through purpose-driven communications and stakeholder engagement.
Our team of 85+ Cognitians around the world bring together 20 languages from 15 countries. With big agency and in-house expertise, we work across corporate communications, PR, digital marketing, social, branding and creative design to communicate what’s next. You can find us on the ground in key financial markets—New York, London, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney and DACH.
From the start, Cognito has been built on the assumption that finance is different. That’s why since 2000 we’ve consistently hired people with varied careers such as financial journalists, bankers, FS marketing executives, advertising planners and social media strategists. Whatever the differing needs, clients agree that part of what makes Cognito an effective partner for them is our specialization and our recognition that finance is different.
COLLECTED STRATEGIES
121 East 24th Street, 10th Floor New York, NY 10010
212/379-2072
www.collectedstrategies.com
Scott Bisang, Partner
Jim Golden, Partner
Jude Gorman, Partner
Ed Hammond, Partner
Nick Lamplough, Partner
Dan Moore, Partner
Collected Strategies is an independent advisory firm providing trusted, strategic communications counsel to Boards of Directors, C-Suite executives and IR/PR leaders. Founded on the principle that the best advice comes from the deepest relationships, we seek to work with clients as perpetual partners, offering senior-led counsel on the full range of corporate, operational and media issues that companies encounter.
Based in Manhattan’s Flatiron neighborhood, we tailor solutions for our clients, providing pragmatic advice and actionable ideas to sup-
port them throughout the business lifecycle. From private funding initiatives, IPO preparations and transformative transactions through shareholder activism defense and financial restructurings, we leverage our deep experience and unique perspective to help our clients navigate today’s ever-changing media and investor landscape.
DUKAS LINDEN PUBLIC RELATIONS
240 West 40th Street
Times Square
New York, NY 10018 201/417-7730 info@dlpr.com www.dlpr.com
Dukas Linden Public Relations (DLPR) is a communications partner for leaders in finance, asset management, professional services, Web3.0/crypto and B2B technology. We create compelling narratives that expand our clients’ share of voice, enhance their brand value and engage the media, investors and other key audiences in a global marketplace.
Ranked #10 on O’Dwyer’s list of top financial PR firms, we’re driven by a passion for delivering targeted strategies and creative solutions that provide measurable benefits to clients—and help their businesses grow and succeed. Our full suite of integrated communications services includes comprehensive messaging and media relations across multiple platforms, content creation, media and presentation coaching, digital/social media, crisis and special situations communications, podcast/video production and promotion, and online reputation management.
DLPR’s clients include wellknown, large and middle-market companies in key areas of finance, including institutional investing, mutual funds, ETFs, wealth management, alternatives and private equity, digital assets, and banking. We have strong professional services experience in accounting, management consulting, compliance, economics, risk management, and law.
We are exceptionally strong at securing top-tier media results for our clients. Our broadcast group booked more than 1,200 interviews in 2023, primarily on CNBC,
Bloomberg, Fox Business, Yahoo! Finance and popular, influential podcasts. We also placed more than 2,100 stories in leading business press including Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, FT, Forbes and within top trade outlets.
EDELMAN
250 Hudson St., 16th Floor
New York, NY 10013
212/768-0550
Fax: 212/704-0117
www.edelman.com
Edelman is a global communications firm that partners with businesses and organizations to evolve, promote and protect their brands and reputations. Our 6,000 people in more than 60 offices deliver communications strategies that give our clients the confidence to lead and act with certainty, earning the trust of their stakeholders. Our honors include the Cannes Lions Grand Prix for PR; Advertising Age’s 2019 A-List; the Holmes Report’s 2018 Global Digital Agency of the Year; and, five times, Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work. Since our founding in 1952, we have remained an independent, family-run business. Edelman owns specialty companies Edelman Intelligence (research) and United Entertainment Group (entertainment, sports, lifestyle).
From fintech to financial services, the Feintuch Communications team has the experience and know-how to help you achieve your business objectives—whether you are a start-up, a high growth challenger brand or the established marketplace leader.
Our fintech and financial services experience is broad—with decades of hands-on support to companies in virtually every facet of the business from payment technologies and buy now, pay later to compliance software, forex, loan platforms, trading technologies, AI, blockchain and more.
We provide integrated financial communications services to privately held and public companies seeking to burnish their image, inform markets or raise capital. Our senior team helps companies to fine tune their corporate story and differentiate them to the business and trade press.
Whether your goal is raising brand awareness, generating sales leads, fundraising or meeting your own unique marketplace challenge, our hands-on experienced team is ready to partner on your behalf.
FINANCIAL PROFILES
11601 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1920 Los Angeles, CA 90025
310/622-8220
mconlon@finprofiles.com www.finprofiles.com
New York • San Francisco • Chicago
Moira Conlon, Founder & CEO
Financial Profiles is a national strategic communications firm that creates value through effective communication. We have earned
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DLPR Chairman & CEO Richard Dukas (left) and President Seth Linden.
FINANCIAL PROFILES
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our place as a trusted partner to public and private companies, as well as asset management and professional services firms that come to us for our expertise in financial communications—investor relations, transaction support; corporate communications; corporate sustainability communications; reputation and issues management; strategic media relations, media training, awards and visibility programs; and brand strategy. We deliver best-in-class integrated communications to help our clients enhance and protect their profiles and attract capital, talent, customers, and media attention.
Leveraging our deep roots in investor relations and breadth of expertise across all disciplines of communication, we support companies that require an integrated, all-stake-
holder approach to communications compatible with today’s rapidly evolving landscape. Our philosophy is that our clients are the arbiters of success—not us. It’s our job to earn their trust by executing strategic communications programs that produce tangible results. We challenge ourselves to deliver on that commitment with the goal of creating longterm, mutually beneficial client partnerships.
Financial Profiles is a WBENC certified women owned business.
FINN PARTNERS
301 E. 57th Street, 4th Floor New York, NY 10022
212/715-1600 www.finnpartners.com
Ryan Barr, Managing Partner, Global Financial Services Practice Leader
FINN Partners’ Global Financial Services Practice advises compa-
nies on strategies to navigate today’s highly competitive markets and complex regulatory environments. The global team serves B2B, B2C, public and private clients alike, across a range of sectors that include retail and commercial banking, investment and wealth management, trade finance, insurance, real estate, private equity, fintech and more. They work with clients to achieve successful business outcomes through purposeful storytelling and integrated communications. Focused on identifying the most meaningful ways for clients to engage key audiences, FINN creates programs that inspire action. Led by industry veteran Ryan Barr, the practice has continued to grow globally, working with clients in various stages of their lifecycle and attracting leading experts in the U.S., Europe and APAC. In today’s ever-changing environment, FINN’s senior counselors understand that modern companies must engage customers and clients in ways never before imaginable. Whether broadening brand awareness, building appreciation for clients transforming an industry or driving adoption of new products and services, FINN’s Financial Services practice combines smart data and analytics with creative programing and flawless tactical execution to deliver bold, meaningful and amazing work for clients.
G&S BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS
111 West 33rd Street, 22nd Floor New York, NY 10001 212/697-2600 www.gscommunications.com
Locations: New York, Chicago, and Raleigh
Steve Halsey, Chief Growth Officer shalsey@gscommunications.com
Anne Green, CEO
G&S is an integrated marketing communications agency. We are a team of media strategists, storytellers, marketers, analysts, and creatives who engage audiences and inspire action, resulting in business growth. Our clients are Fortune 500, mid-market companies and innovative start-ups that fuel transformation across six key industries. This includes: Advanced Manufacturing & Energy; Agribusiness; Healthcare & Wellness; Home & Building; Landscaping & Outdoor Living; and, Professional & Financial Services. We offer a range of specialized services including:
Strategy & Insights; Branding; Public Relations; Social Media; Marketing & Analytics; Content; Advertising; and, Digital Experience. We are proudly independent and midsized. This keeps us nimble and able to provide the senior counsel our clients need. We are a hybrid operation with three main offices in Chicago, Raleigh, and our headquarters in New York City. As a decades-long partner in PROI Worldwide, we also offer our clients a global network of in-language and in-time zone support across 60 countries and 165 major cities including London, Hong Kong, Frankfurt, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.
Learn more at www.gscommunications.com.
GOULD+PARTNERS
46 Woodbine Avenue, Suite #4 Northport, NY 11768 917/783-4500 rick@gould-partners.com www.gould-partners.com
Rick Gould, CPA, J.D., Managing Partner
Jack Bergen, Strategic Partner
Mike Muraszko, Jennifer Casani, Partners
Robert Udowitz, Senior Counselor Yadi Gomez, Account Coordinator
Gould+Partners is an M&A Advisory Firm consisting of a team of very senior veterans of mergers & acquisitions in the PR industry. We identify buyers for sellers, sellers for buyers, make the introduction and manage and facilitate the process.
We also, on a regular basis, perform Valuations and prepare firms for an ultimate sale. Our books on M&A and PR firm management validate our commitment to the PR profession.
GREGORY FCA
27 West Athens Ave. Ardmore, PA 19003 610/642-8253 info@gregoryfca.com www.gregoryfca.com
200 West 41st Street, 12th Floor New York, NY 10036
20 Park Plaza, Suite 1409 Boston, MA 02116
14-16 Great Chapel St. London, W1F 8FL
Greg Matusky, Founder & CEO
Joe Anthony, Partner & President
Gregory FCA has become one
Pictured left to right: Joe Anthony, Co-Owner, President and Head of Gregory FCA’s Financial Services division; Greg Matusky, Founder and CEO of Gregory FCA; and Bill Haynes, Founder and CEO of BackBay Communications, A Gregory FCA Company.
of the largest, most trusted financial PR firms in the nation because we take a fundamentally different approach to our clients’ individual needs. Within Financial Services, we have VP-level team leads specifically focused and experienced in specific areas such as RIAs, private markets, ETFs, fintech, investment management, banks, insurance, investor relations, cryptocurrency and retirement.
We have cultivated strong relationships in all areas of financial services media, positioning our clients as experts on investment and wealth management strategies and telling their story in top-tier national business and consumer publications, in addition to industry trade outlets. We also provide in-depth media training and coaching to ensure each opportunity is optimized with strategic messaging and smart commentary.
Our Investor Relations team works closely with public companies and pre-IPO companies, with program teams that consist of content development, targeting and strategy experts who can elevate your IR initiatives and win the market exposure and credibility your firm deserves and potential investors respect. We can handle routine IR needs as well as nondeal roadshows, analyst relations, conference presentations and more.
Behind it all is our service. We are there when you need us. Never counting hours or going dark. We are all available, accessible, accountable. All in the service to clients. To grow businesses. Build awareness. Create credibility. And ultimately build the value of an enterprise.
ICR
685 Third Ave., 2nd Floor New York, NY 10017 646/277-1200 www.icrinc.com
Thomas Ryan, CEO (tom.ryan@icrinc.com)
Don Duffy, President (don.duffy@icrinc.com)
Phil Denning, Partner (phil.denning@icrinc.com)
Established in 1998, ICR part-
The October issue of O’Dwyer’s will profile Healthcare PR firms. If you would like to be profiled, contact Editor Steve Barnes at 646/843-2089 or steve@odwyerpr.com
ners with public and private companies to execute strategic communications and advisory programs, and manage complex transactions and corporate events to enhance long-term enterprise value and corporate reputation. The firm’s highly-differentiated service model, which pairs capital markets veterans with senior communications professionals, brings deep sector knowledge and relationships to hundreds of clients across more than 20 industry groups. With more than 400 team members, ICR is one of the largest and most experienced independent communications and advisory firms, maintaining offices in New York, Connecticut, Boston, Baltimore, San Jose, London, and Beijing. Learn more at icrinc.com. Follow us on LinkedIn and on X at @ICRPR.
JOELE FRANK, WILKINSON BRIMMER KATCHER
22 Vanderbilt Ave., 18th Flr. New York, NY 10017 212/355-4449 info@joelefrank.com www.joelefrank.com
One California St., #2275 San Francisco, CA 94111 415/869-3950
Joele Frank, Mng. Partner Matthew Sherman, Pres. Andrew Brimmer, Vice Chmn. Daniel Katcher, Vice Chmn. Eric Brielmann, Michael Freitag, Barrett Golden, Jonathan Keehner, Tim Lynch, Jamie Moser, Aaron Palash, Leigh Parrish, Adam Pollack, Aura Reinhard, Jed Repko, Meaghan Repko, Andrea Rose, Arielle Rothstein, Joe Sala, Mahmoud Siddig, Andrew Siegel, Sharon Stern, Kelly Sullivan, Ed Trissel, Partners
Joele Frank provides strategic counsel and tactical support for high-stakes, high-profile special situations as well as for ongoing public and investor relations. The Joele Frank team is recognized by peers, the financial community and journalists for their quality work, strategic acumen and creative approach to challenging issues. The firm’s clients range from large, global public companies to smaller, private enterprises across virtually all industries.
Joele Frank consistently ranks among the top PR firms in M&A, shareholder activism defense and
bankruptcy communications and has leading crisis, ESG, and private equity practices. It leverages in-house design and digital teams to support its client work.
KEKST CNC
U.S. Headquarters 1675 Broadway, 30th Floor New York, NY 10019 212/521-4800 www.kekstcnc.com
Jeremy Fielding, Co-Chief, Executive Officer
Bernhard Meising, Co-Chief, Executive Officer
Many companies and institutions around the world will confront unforeseen events that may well alter their future, pose unprecedented challenges, and potentially define their reputation for years to come. What is required in these circumstances is an expert, experienced strategic communications partner to work with senior management and a Board of Directors to develop and execute the necessary integrated communications strategies to gain the trust and confidence of key stakeholders in this era of accelerated change.
Kekst CNC is ideally equipped to help global business and institutional leaders address these challenges ... as well as their opportunities. For over 50 years, our team of more than 300 experienced professionals in 15 locations around the world has partnered with leading organizations of all sizes to: articulate new business strategies and a vision for success; explain an enterprise transforming event and its significance; help navigate complex business challenges or crises; build support among key stakeholders; and, work to strengthen and protect our clients’ credibility, reputation, and brand.
As trusted advisors, Kekst CNC’s professionals bring to client engagements high energy, sound judgment and expertise on such high stakes matters as: M&A, shareholder activism and governance, crisis communications, restructurings, regulatory investigations / resolutions, litigation support, complex investor relations, IPO communications, issues and reputation management, leadership transitions, employee engagement, public affairs, as well as digital and social communications—providing exceptional counsel and execution supported by objective insights, based on access to proprietary research, data and analytics capabilities.
THE LEVINSON GROUP
200 Park Avenue South New York, NY 10003
212/202-2754
info@TLGCommunications.com
www.TLGCommunications.com
Linkedin.com/company/levinson-group/
The Levinson Group (TLG) is a strategic communications firm advising public and private businesses, global funds, notable individuals, and civic institutions navigating consequential and complex issues. TLG’s team of expert communications advisors bring wide-ranging experience in global business, law, policy, politics, finance, and the media, helping tailor engagement strategies for key stakeholders that help achieve clients’ business and reputational objectives.
TLG’s group of strategists serve as trusted advisors, offering detailed and always-on communications expertise to navigate sensitive and high-stakes issues, including geopolitical complexities; government response and sensitive investigations; public affairs and issues management; workplace and workforce communications; crisis and risk management; litigation communications; cybersecurity communications; and global financial communications including corporate restructuring, executive transitions, transactions, and other capital market events. The firm also has a strong commitment to leading social impact programs and offers a diverse pro bono practice.
The team regularly advises clients on reputation management strategies, engaging with critical stakeholders, identifying centers of influence, and ensuring that accurate information is shared effectively. TLG’s team members have been recognized as communications and public relations industry leaders, receiving notable industry awards for their success and expertise including, “Communicators of the Year,” “Crisis Manager of the Year,” “18 Top PR People in Crisis Communications,” “PR Power List,” “Global 100 Leaders in Legal Strategy,” “Crain’s New York Notable Leaders in PR,” “PR Week Rising Stars,” “Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Champion,” and more.
TLG has been recognized as “Small Agency of the Year” by PR News, top overall Public Relations Firm and overall Crisis Firm by
THE LEVINSON GROUP
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National Law Journal for several years in a row, and “Corporate PR Agency of the Year” by PRovoke Media. The firm was also runner-up for PRWeek’s 2024 “Small Agency of the Year.” TLG is ranked in Band One by Chambers & Partners among the top public relations and communications firms in the U.S. in Crisis Management and Litigation Communications.
LONGACRE
SQUARE PARTNERS
44 West 37th Street, 6th Floor New York, NY 10018 info@longacresquare.com www.longacresquare.com/
Greg Marose, Managing Partner Dan Zacchei, Managing Partner
Longacre Square is a communications and special situations advisory firm that is differentiated by our high-touch and senior-led advisory model with unique experience representing companies and investors in hundreds of transformative events, transactions, capital raises, crises and contested situations. As a full-service consultancy, our capabilities span strategic communications, investor relations, corporate governance advisory, capital
markets planning and transaction support, and crisis management.
Longacre has been ranked #1 for IR/PR advisors on Bloomberg’s shareholder activism league tables since the firm’s inception and handled more special situations and activism campaigns than any strategy firm in 2023 and currently has over 80 representations through 1H 2024. The firm advises a global clientele from its New York City, Dallas-Fort Worth, Washington D.C. and West Palm Beach offices with clients ranging from top, global enterprises to smaller, privately owned corporations.
LOWE GROUP
250 E. Wisconsin Ave., #875 Milwaukee, WI 53202 414/376-7240
jody@lowecom.com www.lowecom.com
Jody Lowe, President & Founder
Benjamin Bishop, Principal & Managing Director
Greg Joslyn, Executive Vice President, Media Relations
Pat Allen, Executive Vice President, LG Digital
Lowe Group celebrated 20 years serving asset managers, ETFs and mutual funds, RIAs and financial advisory firms, private equity and other alternative-investment managers, fintechs, ESG/sustainable and impact investment firms. Our
financial PR services include media outreach, content marketing, reputation management, crisis communications and media training. LG Digital services include web strategy and consulting, SEO, advertising, email and marketing automation, sales enablement and analytics.
Lowe Group helps investment organizations reach their target audiences—with high-impact PR and digital marketing. We help clients grow awareness of products, services and leaders and build and maintain credibility and visibility. Proving the measurable benefits of the impact of our work is our specialty. Our experienced financial professionals hail from investment management firms, hedge funds and financial journalism.
Subscribe to the Lowe Down Blog for weekly commentary on timely investment PR and digital marketing trends. And our Insider’s List of Investment Podcast is regularly updated with recommended financial podcasts. Our Visibility Grader offers advice to asset managers and investment firms to be the best version of themselves online.
LYCEUS GROUP
Seattle, WA • New York, New York 206/419-7559 info@lyceusgroup.com www.lyceusgroup.com/
Tucker Slosburg, Founder & President Matthew Yemma, Managing Director
Pamela Granda, Senior Account Executive
Katherine Camara, Senior Account Executive
Founded by Tucker Slosburg in 2016, Lyceus Group is an independent marketing communications firm that provides innovative and impactful solutions to private and public clients in global capital markets, legal, alternative and traditional asset management, fintech, climate/ESG, Blockchain/crypto, financial and professional services, and AI/Tech.
We build long term partnerships with clients as we work with them to build their reputation and brand through the media. Lyceus Group provides integrated and strategic communications from inception through execution. We put our clients first and measure our performance based on our clients’ success.
Recognized by HedgeWeek, With Intelligence, Institutional Asset
Manager, and others, Lyceus puts clients first and measures our performance based on their long-term success.
Clients Include: Smead Capital, Clough Capital, F/m Investments, Investors Capital Group (ICG), Parallelle Finance, Spear Investments, By the People Technology, JB Capital and Centerstone Investors.
MONTIETH & COMPANY
685 Third Avenue New York, NY 10017 646/437-7602 www.montiethco.com
Montieth M. Illingworth, CEO & Global Managing Partner
Perry Goldman, Global Senior Director, Financial & Professional Services, Issues and Crisis Management and Litigation PR
Katarina Matic, Global Senior Director, Marketing Communications, Issues and Crisis Management and Public Affairs, Branding and Website Development
Cameron Penny, Director, EMEA Joyce Lee, APAC Account Manager/Hong Kong
Montieth & Company is a global specialist communications consultancy that provides a fully integrated set of communications services and solutions that deliver high-value, measurable outcomes for organizations across sectors and global money and media markets. Montieth & Company’s flexible, integrated, and budget-efficient cross-border business model enables us to reach into over 25 media markets via our global hubs in New York, London and Hong Kong, and our affiliates around the globe.
Our clients include companies in asset management, financial research, risk-focused data and analytics, business intelligence/knowledge process outsourcing, cyber and physical security, compliance, law, corporate shareholder services, renewable energy, online trading, fintech, proptech, insurtech, the art market, blockchain, AI and other emerging technologies.
We help these clients achieve influence, realize their ambitions and solve their most critical problems. Central to our value-add is supporting key client corporate initiatives. These range from seeking private equity investments, making strategic acquisitions, moving into new markets globally and expanding profitable market share. The firm’s expertise in financial services enables us to bring both realms of ex-
Clockwise from top left: Lyceus Group’s Tucker Slosburg, Matthew Yemma, Katherine Camara, Pam Granda.
pertise to assisting our professional services clients on these initiatives.
The firm offers clients a full suite of PR services, including marketing communications, corporate and financial communications, issues management and crisis communications, litigation PR, and public affairs and government relations. M&Co also provides branding and website design and development, multi-media marketing, influencer strategies, as well as video and podcast production.
MZ GROUP
27422 Aliso Creek Road Suite 250 Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 www.mzgroup.us/overview
Greg Falesnik, CEO greg@mzgroup.us 949/793-1424
MZ North America is the US division of MZ Group, a full-service investor relations and public relations firm with 250+ professionals worldwide. For over 25 years, MZ has implemented award winning programs and developed a reputation for delivering tangible results for public and private companies.
In fact, we are the only company to provide a fully integrated solution that encompasses strategic communications, industry-leading investor outreach, public relations, a market intelligence desk, and a suite of technology solutions, spanning websites, conference call/ webcasting, video production and XBRL/Edgar filing services.
Rather than being another service provider, MZ prides itself on bringing a customized approach to their programs and “doing a better job for fewer clients,” as evidenced by our industry best 2:1 client to employee ratio. With a focus on personal level attention, we have professionals located throughout every time zone in North America, as well as Taipei and São Paulo, that will leverage decades of relationship capital and help tell your story effectively.
For public companies, we deploy sophisticated investor support programs via outreach to institutions, hedge funds, family offices, and ultra-high net worth investors, while layering in thought leadership and financial media opportunities to increase awareness. We also provide sell-side outreach and capital markets advisory expertise to help clients secure smart growth capital and research coverage along the way.
So, whether you’re a public or private, we’d love to have a conversation on how MZ can help build a differentiated program that elevates the company, positions you as a thought leader and creates a strong and sustained presence to help your company succeed.
NOVITAS COMMUNICATIONS INC.
1732 Wazee Street, Suite 201
Denver, CO 80202
202/380-7114
www.novitascommunications.com
Michelle Balch-Lyng, Founder and CEO
John (Chip) Taylor
, VP
Jaime Gardner, Dir., Bus Dev and Comms.
Novitas Communications is more than a traditional public relations firm.
Located in Denver, Colorado, we are a full-service communications consultancy, operating at the nexus of industry, public policy and community. Our passion is aligning your organization’s communication practices with your broader organizational goals. We’ve made our mark in this area for years, working with everyone from small local nonprofits to major international corporations. Regardless of your organization’s composition or industry, we’re prepared to be a one-stop support system for all your communication needs.
Our suite of services is wide-ranging, and we can work across any industry in a local, national and international capacity. Whether you’re experiencing an organizational crisis that demands 24/7 support or trying to execute a long-term business growth strategy, we have a long legacy of developing and executing winning strategies.
In the finance and investor relations sector, we can provide a variety of multifaceted financial communication services, including investor relations support, strategic messaging for all financial and capital market transactions, financial reputation management and strategic counsel on financial policy and regulation. This includes in-house communications expertise in M&A, divestitures, mergers of equals, hostile defense, initial public offerings and distressed situations.
For more information, visit: www.novitascommunications.com
PROSEK PARTNERS
28 East 28th St., 15 Floor New York, NY 10016 212/279-3115
jprosek@prosek.com www.prosek.com
Jennifer Prosek, Mark Kollar, Russell Sherman, Andy Merrill, Mickey Mandelbaum, Caroline Gibson, Karen Niovitch Davis, Mike Geller, Neil Goklani, Brian Schaffer, Nadia Damouni, Thomas Rozycki, Dan Allocca, Jim David, Partners
Prosek Partners builds—and protects—the top brands in business. We are a certified Woman-Owned Business and among the largest independent, integrated communications and marketing firms globally.
Specializing in providing a full range of communications solutions to financial and professional services companies, Prosek delivers business impact through an unexpected level of passion, creativity and marketing savvy. Services include media relations, thought leadership, social and digital media, public affairs, investor relations, financial communications, transaction services, crisis communications and issues management, content creation, conference support, publishing, media training and more. Prosek’s strategic branding and integrated marketing arm— Prophecy by Prosek—offers brand strategy, award-winning design, digital and advertising capabilities. Prosek has been named PRovoke Media’s “Global and North American Financial Agency of the Year” and a top-five global M&A and shareholder activism agency.
RF|BINDER
950 3rd Ave., Floor 8 New York, NY 10022 www.rfbinder.com
Amy Binder, CEO Rebecca Binder, President
RF|Binder’s Corporate & Financial Services practice specializes in providing comprehensive, tailored communications programs to a wide range of institutions, including asset management firms, investment funds, commodities traders, banks, FinTech start-ups, insurance companies, and professional service providers. With the Clarity Lens™ framework as our foundation, we deeply understand each client’s unique needs and priorities, allowing us to develop targeted strategies that directly align with their business objectives, fos-
tering success.
Our integrated programming covers a spectrum of services, from reputation management and C-suite thought leadership initiatives, new product and service launches, to ESG strategy development, crisis communications and corporate social impact initiatives. We excel in crafting compelling narratives and messages as well as creating campaigns that enable our clients to engage with the media, key stakeholders, and clients. Drawing on our extensive experience in the financial services industry, we’ve assisted prominent companies in navigating market volatility, technological advancements, M&A, IPOs, fee structure changes, and the growing importance of ESG and sustainable finance.
Backed by a dedicated research and insights team, a digital marketing and paid media team, and The Grove, our cutting-edge creative studio, we create programs that elevate brands, establish credibility, and foster trust.
R.J. WALKER & CO.
Bayonne, NJ www.rjwalkerco.com 860/930-3611
Ryan Walker, Founder, Managing Partner
Stephanie Walker, Managing Partner
R.J. Walker & Co. is a digital communications firm that specializes in public relations and content marketing strategy. We work primarily with small, medium, and early-stage companies in the fintech, tech, and financial services industry. In short, we were founded to help companies who are doing the most interesting things get the exposure they need to grow.
We take a very different approach than what you see at other boutique public relations firms. We focus only on the activities that move the needle and drive sales, we work with capable and competent practitioners who understand their clients’ business, we keep overhead costs low so that you’re not nickel and dimed, and perhaps most importantly, we are transparent in pricing. We work hard to determine what your goals are and what’s required to accomplish them. The rate we charge is reflective of this simple formula—and nothing more. No out of pocket or hidden fees. No BS.
In essence, we avoid the frustra-
R.J. WALKER & CO.
Continued from page 31
tions that unfortunately define so many traditional PR firms—like unclear ROI, high retainers, limited staff experience, opaque pricing models, and lackluster results and creativity.
SLOANE & COMPANY
One World Trade Center 285 Fulton Street, 63rd Floor New York, NY 10007 212/486-9500
Sloane & Company is an industry-leading strategic communications firm that provides comprehensive counsel on high-stakes situations, including: M&A; shareholder activism defense; IPOs and SPACs; litigation; unforeseen management changes; board issues; employee issues; cybersecurity; natural disasters; product integrity; regulatory and legislative issues; bankruptcies / restructurings; environmental issues; and corporate governance. More broadly, we provide strategic sup-
port around corporate and financial public relations; transactions; strategic insights; messaging, analytics and measurement; public affairs; and investor relations—to public and private companies as well as investors, associations and individuals.
We are experts at assisting clients when unforeseen events threaten to impact their business or damage their reputation. We are known for our intelligence, intensity, creativity and focus on getting results. Whether the situation calls for developing and delivering the right messages to the audiences that matter or advising on highstakes deals or crises, our goal is the same—to drive winning outcomes for our clients.
We have become a go-to firm when these crises and special situations occur by listening to our clients, understanding the situation, determining the risks to their business and delivering candid advice to management teams, boards, executives and organizations when they need it most. Clients have the benefit of working with senior executives with decades of experience who offer professional counsel in all phases of crisis planning and response, leading to immediate results.
Beyond specific crisis situations, we develop effective and actionable contingency plans in close coordination with a client’s legal, financial, marketing, communica-
ing and first-class execution produces business-changing results for our clients.
In addition to our deep sector experience, Stanton is a preferred partner of financial brands for our practitioner model where our senior professionals spend the majority of their time on client work. Our flexible and collaborative approach and responsive, bureaucracy-free service are the hallmarks of our long-standing client relationships.
With teams in New York and the San Francisco Bay Area, Stanton supports clients through strategy, media relations, content development and marketing, design and production, executive visibility, thought leadership, crisis management, analyst relations, social media management and more.
tions and government relations/ lobbying advisors. Our approach provides best-practices and enhances client procedures and appropriate training of personnel before and during a crisis. When the unexpected happens, we actively manage and support implementing the appropriate communications tactics. After the crisis subsides, we help clients restore their credibility and reputation in the marketplace.
STANTON
909 Third Ave. New York, NY 10022 212/366-5300 astanton@stantonprm.com www.stantonprm.com
Tom Faust, Charlyn Lusk, Managing Directors Liam Collopy, Matthew Conroy, Michael Goodwin, Scott Lessne, Katrin Lieberwirth, SVPs
Stanton is a strategic communications partner to global firms, midsize leaders and entrepreneurial enterprises with a particular strength in financial services including private investment, investment banking, fintech, advisories and insurance. Our expertise has been recognized with numerous awards including a Top 10 ranking among firms specializing in financial PR from O’Dwyer’s. Our combination of smart strategy, innovative think-
Financial clients include: 3i, AE Industrial Partners, Arclight, Allianz, Assurant, Bain Capital, Berkshire Partners, Carl Marks Advisors, Conning Asset Management, CVC, FFL Partners, Gen II Fund Services, HGGC, HighVista Strategies, Kinterra Capital, Kline Hill Partners, Leste Group, Lincolnshire Management, Makena Capital, Merchants Mortgage, Mosser Capital, Northleaf Capital Partners, OceanSound Partners, One Equity Partners, One Inc., T1D Fund, The Mutual Group, Toorak Capital Partners, and Unity Partners.
THE SWAY EFFECT
Chrysler Building 405 Lexington Ave., Floor 8 New York, NY 10174 inquiries@theswayeffect.com www.theswayeffect.com
Jennifer Risi, Founder and President
The Sway Effect is an award-winning global network of independent marketing and communications agencies. Headquartered in New York City, our network is made up of over 50+ agencies in North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific. At the heart of our work, we are focused on “swaying” opinion on behalf of our clients and putting diversity, equity, and inclusion, at the heart of everything that we do. Most notably, our team has deep PR expertise and specializes in corporate communications, global media relations, investor relations and issues management.
Current clients include a mix of publicly traded companies including Signet Jewelers, Appian, 10X
The Sway Effect supporting Signet Jeweler’s investor day at the NYSE.
Genomics, to name a few.
The agency has been awarded most recently:
• PRNews 2023 Women Owned Agency of the Year
• PRovoke Media 2024 North American Boutique Agency of the Year
• PRovoke Media 2024 North American Capital Markets Campaign of the Year
• PRovoke Media 2024 North American Diamond Award Winner —Superior Achievement in Reputation Management
• PRNews 2024 Agency Elite Top 100
TIER ONE PARTNERS
129 South Street Boston, MA 02111 617/918-7060 www.tieronepr.com
209 W. Jackson Blvd. Chicago, IL 60606 708/421-0083
Marian Hughes, Co-Founder, Managing Partner, Chicago
Kathy Wilson, Co-Founder, Managing Partner, Boston
Now in our 20th year, Tier One Partners is a woman founded and led integrated marketing agency. We are an award-winning team of strategic thinkers, trendspotters, creators, and digital changemakers who are agile and proactive by design. Our earned media, creative content, and digital marketing strategies, combined with our relentless pursuit of results, bring our clients’ visions and missions to the forefront—and keep them there.
Tier One’s financial services/fintech experience includes a range of sectors including digital banking, payment platforms, investment brokerages and back-end online trading technologies, and financial performance software. On the professional services side, we’ve supported companies in sectors including data and analytics, adtech, and cloud/SaaS technology.
We’re proud of our campaigns to build awareness and category domination for organizations including Ally Financial, TradeKing, iVest+, Geisecke + Devrient, Nephila, Velocity Risk, Velocity Capital, Prophix, Centrilogic, 3Pillar, 55, and others. Our experience with the national business, financial, and technology media runs deep, and we know the way “in” to the kinds of stories our clients
care about.
The collective talent, work ethic, and heart Tier One puts against our clients’ businesses is the foundation of everything we do. Our agency is composed of curious self-starters who think beyond the obvious, overcome obstacles, and make communications magic happen. From day one, we’re committed to earning our clients’ trust and executing creative, data-informed programs that catapult them to the forefront of their industries.
Tier One’s differentiator is our Agile Insights & Analytics practice, which tracks changing issues and trends. Through daily immersion in news and culture, we uncover connections and commonalities to authentically position our clients within the business and cultural dialogue. This helps them stay relevant, swiftly seize opportunities, and elevate their brand visibility.
Co-headquartered in Boston and Chicago, Tier One is a certified women owned business.
TREVELINO/ KELLER
981 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd., #100 Atlanta, GA 30318
Dean Trevelino, Founder and Principal, 404/214-0722 X106
Genna Keller, Founder and Principal, 404/214-0722 X105
For more than five years, Trevelino/Keller has played a strategic role in Atlanta’s signature financial services event, FinTech South in collaboration with the Technology Association of Georgia. The firm’s financial services practice has benefited from its well-balanced experience base of B2B and B2C clients, enabling it to serve traditional financial services companies as well as fintech organizations that leverage its technology practice. Utilizing the firm’s three core service areas—public relations, growth marketing and creative services—its mission is to help companies with one of three overarching strategies—go to market, accelerated growth or brand relaunches.
In the last year, the firm has continued to maintain its position within the traditional financial services space, serving regional and niche financial institutions like regional credit unions and
Now in our 20th year, Tier One is a woman founded and led integrated marketing agency.
auto loan lenders. In the start of 2022, the firm was successful in the emerging NFT marketplace and NIL space, specifically within the sports industry, working with brands like Icon Source and The Players’ Lounge. Also of note is the firm’s outcome-driven approach with emerging financial/ fintech brands that have leveraged the momentum of public relations campaigns to realize their business goals. In recent years, brands like Paymetric [tokenization], FactorTrust [Underbanked data], Capital Access Network [alternative lending], all realized successful exits following campaigns led by Trevelino/Keller.
On the professional services side, the firm has bridged to wealth management, venture capital, angel networks as well as traditional services firms in marketing services, human resources, legal, accounting and executive search. In 2024, Trevelino/Keller acquired Marsden Marketing, a b2b growth marketing firm, a move that expanded the firm’s strategic and technological resources.
VESTED
114 East 25th Street New York, NY 10010 917/765-8720 www.fullyvested.com/ Linkedin.com/company/vested-llc X.com/TeamFullyVested Instagram.com/teamvested
82 Great Suffolk Street London, SE10BE +44 203 890 4750
232 Scott St. San Francisco, CA 94117
150 King Street West, Suite 200 Toronto, Ontario M5H 1J9 Canada
Dan Simon, Chairman, Group Vested, dan@fullyvested.com
Binna Kim, CEO, Group Vested, binna@fullyvested.com
Ishviene Arora, President & Chief Client Officer, ishviene@fullyvested.com
Eric Hazard, Managing Director, CEO of Vested Ventures, eric@ fullyvested.com
Vested is a global, award-winning integrated financial services communications and marketing firm with offices in New York, London and Toronto. Vested delivers results-focused programs for brands big and small including American Express, Bloomberg, JPMorgan Chase, CanadaLife, Morgan Stanley and more. The firm has been recognized as one of America’s Best PR agencies by Forbes and has won Gold for the Best Industry-Focused Agency by the Bulldog Awards. The Vested UK team was also recognized as the CIPR Specialist Consultancy of the Year and PRWeek Top 150 Consultancy.
We attract and retain the industry’s best talent through our equity ownership model and entrepreneurial approach—from unlimited vacation days to sabbaticals. Entrepreneurial to the core, Vested launched the industry’s first agency-run investment group, Vested Ventures; created a community for senior financial marcomms professionals to network and share best practices called Financial Narrative; partners with Qwoted, the disruptive tech platform that brings together financial journalists and sources; and launched Finance Studio, the platform for digital, content and design projects suited to each individual brand’s needs and budget.
O’DWYER’S RANKINGS
Alex Stanton dies at 70
Alex Stanton, a veteran corporate, financial and marketing PR executive, died on July 9. He was 70.
Known as a handson manager who worked closely with clients, he launched New York-based Stanton in 2009. The firm, which focuses primarily on B2B clients, took the No. 55 slot in O’Dwyer’s rankings with 2023 fees of $11.1 million.
“In addition to being one of the hardest working and smartest people we have known, Alex Stanton was a tremendous leader, mentor, colleague and friend,” said a joint statement from Stanton Managing Directors Tom Faust and Charlyn Lusk. “The outreach we have received from so many is a testament to the impact he had on employees, clients, media and the public relations industry over the past 50 years. No one will ever be able to fill Alex’s shoes, but we will do everything possible to honor his legacy and his name.”
Stanton also helped build and scale Dorf & Stanton, which was sold to Shandwick, and Stanton Crenshaw Communications.
Bob Marston dies at 86
Bob Marston, who built Robert Marston And Associates and Marston Strategic Communications, died July 14 of respiratory failure. He was 86.
Ernst & Young, John Hancock and General Motors.
RM&A also handled nonprofit organizations such as New York City Ballet, the Juilliard School, the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell, the New York Blood Center, Audubon Society, Nature Conservancy and the Conservation Fund.
In 2014, Marston opened Marston Strategic Communications to design and implement strategic corporate and financial communications programs.
Marston is survived by wife, Maryann, and sons, Robert and Bradford.
Kaplowitz bids adieu to 4A’s
Marla Kaplowitz is stepping down as CEO of the American Association of Advertising Agencies, effective May 30, 2025.
Abbey Klaassen, 4A’s Chair and CEO of dentsu Creative US, said the trade group is sad to see Kaplowitz go, but is happy that she gave the 4A’s plenty of time to find a replacement. That search for a new CEO has begun.
Kaplowitz, who took the 4A’s post in 2017, said she is ready “to pursue the next phase of my professional journey.”
she was VP of Global Communications at Eventbrite, and worked at Sutherlandgold, Yahoo and Ketchum. According to a post on Axios, Carmichael will oversee corporate communications, product and brand communications, social media and editorial, reporting to Lyft CMO Brian Irving.
Finn Partners hires disinformation warrior
David Krejci, founder & CEO of Media Forensics, has joined Finn Partners as a Partner.
He launched Media Forensics in 2020 as a crisis shop dealing with mis/disinformation and social media disruption.
Krejci has handled the challenges presented by conspiracy theories, AI, polarizing ideologies, hostile agitators and inauthentic accounts.
He will counsel Finn’s clients on dealing with mis/disinformation, crisis mitigation and campaign readiness in 2024 and beyond.
Prior to setting up Media Forensics, Krejci did a 22-year stint at Weber Shandwick, where he rose to the Executive VP-Media Intelligence Position.
SL Strategies adds health policy pro
He began his career in 1959, as an apprentice at Rowland Company. He exited Rowland in 1968 as Senior VP, and subsequently joined Rogers & Cowan, where he managed the firm’s corporate office in New York.
Robert Marston And Associates, which first specialized in marketing communications, opened in 1970. It added corporate communications, investor relations and public affairs capabilities to serve its growing list of clients.
That client roster included corporate giants Procter & Gamble, Campbell Soup, Citigroup, American Airlines, Chrysler Motors, AT&T, Home Depot, Pepsi-Cola,
That will include serving on the board of publicly traded Penn Entertainment, where Kaplowitz chairs the nominating and governance committee and sit on the compensation committee. She also is a member of industry boards including BBB National Programs, VoxComm, and Ad Council.
Prior to the 4A’s post, Kaplowitz was North America CEO for MEC Global, a WPP unit now called Wavemaker Global; and executive VP at MediaVest, which is part of Publicis Groupe.
Carmichael lifts Lyft’s PR push
Lyft has brought on Terra Carmichael as Chief Communications Officer. Carmichael was previously CCO at Stock X, an online marketplace and clothing reseller. Before that,
SL Strategies has recruited Mary Moody Johnson, who was Health Policy Director for Sen. Bill Cassidy, as Senior VP, effective Aug. 1.
Cassidy (R-LA) is the ranking member on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
Moody Johnson worked on the passing of the bipartisan No Surprises Act, a law to end surprise medical billing, and legislation advancing mental healthcare access.
She negotiated full committee mark-up of more than 20 health bills on topics such as commercial market payment reform, policies to bring generic drugs to market more quickly, substance use disorder and addiction treatment.
Michael O’Brien, Global CEO Matthew Caiola, Co-CEO Ronn Torossian, Founder & Chmn.
Since 2003, New York Citybased 5W Public Relations (5WPR) has worked with widely known and emerging brands, corporations, and high-profile individuals. Our practice areas include Consumer Products & Brands, Food & Beverage, Health & Wellness, Beauty, Apparel & Accessories, Home & Housewares, Travel & Hospitality, Entertainment & Sports, Corporate, Financial Communications, Technology, Public Affairs & Government Relations, Nonprofit, Crisis Communications, Events, and Digital & Social Media. We have a 360-degree approach to PR, social media, branding, and digital marketing that delivers game-changing results to our clients. Our 250+ tenacious and creative communications practitioners develop and execute creative campaigns that connect our clients with their target audiences in memorable ways. Every aspect of programming is designed to impact our clients’ bottom lines, bringing leading businesses a resourceful, bold, and results-driven approach to communication.
5WPR’s notable clients include GNC Holdings, G-SHOCK, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Axiom Space, Cirrus Nexus, L’Oreal, The Pioneer Woman, iDEAL Semiconductor, Integral Ad Science, Samsung SmartThings, Zeta Global, and Ethique. We were named to Inc. magazine’s Best Workplaces 2022, and our innovative work has been awarded Female Executive of the Year;
Consumer Product PR Campaign of the Year; Business-to-Business Campaign of the Year; and Travel & Tourism Campaign of the Year.
THE BLISS GROUP
Member of The Next Practices Group
230 Park Avenue, Second Flr. West New York, NY 10169
Greg Hassel, Ken Kerrigan, Megan Tuck, Miles Hill, Bill Smith, SVPs
Adam Schwartzman, Alana Gold, Meghan Powers, GVP
Anna Robinson, Ben Davis, Courtland Long, Janice Miller, Jean Logerfo, JP Letourneau, Marisha Chinsky, Meghan Busch, Quintin Maidment, VPs
Since our inception nearly 50 years ago, The Bliss Group’s professional services practice has helped industry leaders in accounting, law, management consulting and executive recruiting shape the ideas that have sparked insightful conversations with stakeholders around the world. Driven by curiosity, we team up with our clients to consistently move beyond the way things have always been done by simply asking: What can we do next? The answer has driven new levels of stakeholder engagement across the entire ecosystem of marketing and communications. And we’re just getting started.
BOSPAR
Headquartered in San Francisco, we serve clients around the world. 1/844-526-7727 (844/5-BOSPAR) results@bospar.com www.bospar.com
Curtis Sparrer, Chris Boehlke, Tom Carpenter, Principals
Is it us, or do all these agency descriptions sound alike?
“We’re an integrated global communication and marketing agency that BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.”
That’s not the thinking that’s going to get you noticed.
That’s where we come in.
The PR industry and business world have noticed Bospar for our work in tech, healthcare, social media, content marketing and PR:
• Newsweek: America’s Best PR Agencies in 2024
• Financial Times: Americas’ Fastest Growing Companies in 2024
• Inc.: Inc. 5000 Regionals: Pacific list in 2024
• PRWeek: Best in Corporate Branding winner in 2024
• PRNews: Experiential & Event PR Award winner, Nonprofit Award winner for Crisis Management, Digital Awards for Branding and Launch Campaigns winner in 2024
• Fortune: America’s Most Innovative Companies 2023—the only PR & Marketing Agency to join the ranks!
• Inc.: Fastest Growing Companies in the Pacific Region 2023
• Financial Times: America’s 500 Fastest-Growing Companies list in 2023
Bospar is a team of politely pushy tech PR and communications professionals with purpose and relentless joy for what we do. Former journalists from social and traditional media and marketing, influencer, financial, SEO, and public affairs experts make up our experienced team. Because of this, our domain expertise is wide and far-reaching in areas like AI, healthcare, fintech, retail, consumer, cybersecurity, education, and many more. We build strong media relationships and draft attention-grabbing written content and social media posts that drive action. We craft compelling pitches that secure headlines and interviews, develop effective crisis communications strategies that keep problems at bay, and launch PR campaigns grounded in strategy and infused with creativity. With breakthrough coverage and visibility, our clients speed ahead—no “BLAH, BLAH, BLAH” about it!
EDELMAN
250 Hudson St., 16th Floor New York, NY 10013
212/768-0550
Fax: 212/704-0117
www.edelman.com
Edelman is a global communications firm that partners with businesses and organizations to evolve, promote and protect their brands and reputations. Our 6,000 people in more than 60 offices deliver communications strategies that give our clients the confidence to lead and act with certainty, earning the trust of their stakeholders. Our honors include the Cannes Lions Grand Prix for PR; Advertising Age’s 2019 A-List; the Holmes Report’s 2018 Global Digital Agency of the Year; and, five times, Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work. Since our founding in 1952, we have remained an independent, family-run business. Edelman owns specialty companies Edelman Intelligence (research) and United Entertainment Group (entertainment, sports, lifestyle).
Henry Feintuch, President Doug Wright, Vice President
Seeking extra PR bandwidth for your professional services organization?
Feintuch Communications, an award-winning boutique PR firm, has extensive experience in collaborating with professional services organizations. Market segments include legal, accounting, real estate, market research, advertising, branding, digital media and media buying.
We collaborate with our clients to help differentiate and position them; and then package the core essence of their offerings and what makes them a standout in their field. Then, we develop a strategy and smart PR campaign to help elevate their brand, burnish their thought leadership and generate
leads/revenue. Tactics typically include strategic media relations (business, financial, trade), speaking platforms, special events, social media, association marketing and awards/honors programs.
Whether your goal is raising brand awareness, generating leads, fundraising or meeting your own unique marketplace challenge, our hands-on experienced team is ready to jump in on your behalf.
FINANCIAL PROFILES
11601 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1920 Los Angeles, CA 90025 310/622-8220 mconlon@finprofiles.com www.finprofiles.com
New York • San Francisco • Chicago
Moira Conlon, Founder & CEO
Financial Profiles is a national strategic communications firm that creates value through effective communication. We have earned our place as a trusted partner to public and private companies, as well as asset management and professional services firms that come to us for our expertise in financial communications—investor relations, transaction support; corporate communications; corporate sustainability communications; reputation and issues management; strategic media relations, media training, awards and visibility programs; and brand strategy. We deliver best-in-class integrated communications to help our clients enhance and protect their profiles and attract capital, talent, customers, and media attention. Leveraging our deep roots in investor relations and breadth of expertise across all disciplines of communication, we support companies that require an integrated, all-stakeholder approach to communications compatible with today’s rapidly evolving landscape. Our philosophy is that our clients are the arbiters of success—not us. It’s our job to earn their trust by executing strategic communications programs that produce
The October issue of O’Dwyer’s will profile Healthcare PR firms.
If you would like to be profiled, contact Editor Steve Barnes at 646/843-2089 or steve@odwyerpr.com
tangible results. We challenge ourselves to deliver on that commitment with the goal of creating long-term, mutually beneficial client partnerships.
Financial Profiles is a WBENC certified women owned business.
FRENCH/WEST/ VAUGHAN
112 East Hargett St. Raleigh, NC 27601 919/832-6300 www.fwv-us.com
Rick French, Chairman & CEO
David Gwyn, President / Principal Natalie Best, Chief Operating Officer / Principal
French/West/Vaughan (FWV) is the Southeast’s leading public relations, public affairs, advertising and digital media agency, a distinction it has held since 2001. Headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., and founded in April 1997, FWV has received 35 Global or National Agency of the Year honors over the past 27 years, including being named the nation’s Best PR Agency of 2024 by a jury of the country’s top journalists. Its professional services practice area is ranked 12th in the country.
FWV’s extensive legal and professional services marketing experience includes work done on behalf of: Edwards Kirby LLP; Smith Anderson; Perkins & Will; HR Florida; NCSHRM; Lynch Mykins; Coats & Bennett, PLLC; Lisa Smithson & Company; Marshall & Taylor, P.C.; Maginnis Howard; Poyner Spruill LLP; Smith Moore LLP; Underrated Golf; Vickie Milazzo Legal Nursing Services; Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice; and Yates, McLamb & Weyer.
In addition to its diverse range of legal and professional services clients, FWV’s passionate team of expert storytellers works with many of the world’s leading companies and brands, including Wrangler, ABB, Proximo, Melitta, Teen Cancer America, and the N.C. Department of Transportation, just to name a few.
FWV wholly owns TMG (Detroit), an award-winning integrated public relations and marketing firm focused on B2B, mobility, automotive, manufacturing and technology markets for more than 20 years. TMG works with top international companies such as Eaton, LG Energy Solutions, Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America and SKF.
FWV is the parent company of fashion and lifestyle PR firm
AMP3 (New York City), pet and animal health practice FWV Fetching and feature film development imprint Prix Productions (L.A.). FWV employs more than 140 public relations, public affairs, social media, advertising and digital marketing experts between its Raleigh, N.C., headquarters and offices around the country.
G&S BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS
111 West 33rd Street, 22nd Floor
New York, NY 10001
212/697-2600
www.gscommunications.com
Locations: New York, Chicago, and Raleigh
Steve Halsey, Chief Growth Officer shalsey@gscommunications.com
Anne Green, CEO
G&S is an integrated marketing communications agency. We are a team of media strategists, storytellers, marketers, analysts, and creatives who engage audiences and inspire action, resulting in business growth. Our clients are Fortune 500, mid-market companies and
_ Continued on page 38
Celebrating Silver Anvil award win are (L to R) Deirdre McFarland, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, NCSolutions (advertising effectiveness); Henry Feintuch, President and Doug Wright, Vice President, Feintuch Communications.
G&S BUSINESS COMMS.
Continued from page 37
innovative start-ups that fuel transformation across six key industries. This includes: Advanced Manufacturing & Energy; Agribusiness; Healthcare & Wellness; Home & Building; Landscaping & Outdoor Living; and, Professional & Financial Services. We offer a range of specialized services including: Strategy & Insights; Branding; Public Relations; Social Media; Marketing & Analytics; Content; Advertising; and, Digital Experience.
We are proudly independent and midsized. This keeps us nimble and able to provide the senior counsel our clients need. We are a hybrid operation with three main offices in Chicago, Raleigh, and our headquarters in New York City. As a decades-long partner in PROI Worldwide, we also offer our clients a global network of in-language and in-time zone support across 60 countries and 165 major cities including London, Hong
Kong, Frankfurt, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.
Learn more at www.gscommunications.com.
GREGORY FCA
27 West Athens Ave. Ardmore, PA 19003 610/642-8253 info@gregoryfca.com www.gregoryfca.com
200 West 41st Street, 12th Floor New York, NY 10036
20 Park Plaza, Suite 1409 Boston, MA 02116
14-16 Great Chapel St. London, W1F 8FL
Greg Matusky, Founder & CEO
Joe Anthony, Partner & President
Gregory FCA has become one of the largest, most trusted financial PR firms in the nation because we take a fundamentally different approach to our clients’ individual needs. Within Financial Services, we have VP-level team leads spe-
cifically focused and experienced in specific areas such as RIAs, private markets, ETFs, fintech, investment management, banks, insurance, investor relations, cryptocurrency and retirement.
We have cultivated strong relationships in all areas of financial services media, positioning our clients as experts on investment and wealth management strategies and telling their story in top-tier national business and consumer publications, in addition to industry trade outlets. We also provide in-depth media training and coaching to ensure each opportunity is optimized with strategic messaging and smart commentary.
Our Investor Relations team works closely with public companies and pre-IPO companies, with program teams that consist of content development, targeting and strategy experts who can elevate your IR initiatives and win the market exposure and credibility your firm deserves and potential investors respect. We can handle routine IR needs as well as non-deal roadshows, analyst relations, conference presentations and more.
Behind it all is our service. We are there when you need us. Never counting hours or going dark. We are all available, accessible, accountable. All in the service to clients. To grow businesses. Build awareness. Create credibility. And ultimately build the value of an enterprise.
ICR
685 Third Ave., 2nd Floor New York, NY 10017
646/277-1200 www.icrinc.com
Thomas Ryan, CEO (tom.ryan@icrinc.com) Don Duffy, President (don.duffy@icrinc.com) Phil Denning, Partner (phil.denning@icrinc.com)
Established in 1998, ICR partners with public and private companies to execute strategic communications and advisory programs, and manage complex transactions and corporate events to enhance long-term enterprise value and corporate reputation. The firm’s highly-differentiated service model, which pairs capital markets veterans with senior communications professionals, brings deep sector knowledge and relationships to hundreds of clients across more than 20 industry groups. With more than 400 team members, ICR is one of the largest and most experienced
independent communications and advisory firms, maintaining offices in New York, Connecticut, Boston, Baltimore, San Jose, London, and Beijing. Learn more at icrinc.com. Follow us on LinkedIn and on X at @ICRPR.
JOELE FRANK, WILKINSON BRIMMER KATCHER
22 Vanderbilt Ave., 18th Flr. New York, NY 10017
212/355-4449
info@joelefrank.com www.joelefrank.com
One California St., #2275 San Francisco, CA 94111 415/869-3950
Joele Frank, Mng. Partner Matthew Sherman, Pres. Andrew Brimmer, Vice Chmn. Daniel Katcher, Vice Chmn. Eric Brielmann, Michael Freitag, Barrett Golden, Jonathan Keehner, Tim Lynch, Jamie Moser, Aaron Palash, Leigh Parrish, Adam Pollack, Aura Reinhard, Jed Repko, Meaghan Repko, Andrea Rose, Arielle Rothstein, Joe Sala, Mahmoud Siddig, Andrew Siegel, Sharon Stern, Kelly Sullivan, Ed Trissel, Partners
Joele Frank provides strategic counsel and tactical support for high-stakes, high-profile special situations as well as for ongoing public and investor relations. The Joele Frank team is recognized by peers, the financial community and journalists for their quality work, strategic acumen and creative approach to challenging issues. The firm’s clients range from large, global public companies to smaller, private enterprises across virtually all industries.
Joele Frank consistently ranks among the top PR firms in M&A, shareholder activism defense and bankruptcy communications and has leading crisis, ESG, and private equity practices. It leverages inhouse design and digital teams to support its client work.
Pictured left to right: Joe Anthony, Co-Owner, President and Head of Gregory FCA’s Financial Services division; Greg Matusky, Founder and CEO of Gregory FCA; and Bill Haynes, Founder and CEO of BackBay Communications, A Gregory FCA Company.
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THE LEVINSON GROUP
Continued from page 38
The Levinson Group (TLG) is a strategic communications firm advising public and private businesses, global funds, notable individuals, and civic institutions navigating consequential and complex issues. TLG’s team of expert communications advisors bring wide-ranging experience in global business, law, policy, politics, finance, and the media, helping tailor engagement strategies for key stakeholders that help achieve clients’ business and reputational objectives.
TLG’s group of strategists serve as trusted advisors, offering detailed and always-on communications expertise to navigate sensitive and high-stakes issues, including geopolitical complexities; government response and sensitive investigations; public affairs and issues management; workplace and workforce communications; crisis and risk management; litigation communications; cybersecurity communications; and global financial communications including corporate restructuring, executive transitions, transactions, and other capital market events. The firm also has a strong commitment to leading social impact programs and offers a diverse pro bono practice.
The team regularly advises clients on reputation management strategies, engaging with critical stakeholders, identifying centers of influence, and ensuring that accurate information is shared effectively. TLG’s team members have been recognized as communications and public relations industry leaders, receiving notable industry awards for their success and expertise including, “Communicators of the Year,” “Crisis Manager of the Year,” “18 Top PR People in Crisis Communications,” “PR Power List,” “Global 100 Leaders in Legal Strategy,” “Crain’s New York Notable Leaders in PR,” “PR Week Rising Stars,” “Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Champion,” and more. TLG has been recognized as “Small Agency of the Year” by PR News, top overall Public Relations Firm and overall Crisis Firm by National Law Journal for several years in a row, and “Corporate PR Agency of the Year” by PRovoke Media. The firm was also runner-up for PRWeek’s 2024 “Small Agency of the Year.” TLG is ranked in Band One by Chambers & Partners
among the top public relations and communications firms in the U.S. in Crisis Management and Litigation Communications.
MONTIETH & COMPANY
685 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10017
646/437-7602
www.montiethco.com
Montieth M. Illingworth, CEO & Global Managing Partner
Perry Goldman, Global Senior Director, Financial & Professional Services, Issues and Crisis Management and Litigation PR
Katarina Matic, Global Senior Director, Marketing Communications, Issues and Crisis Management and Public Affairs, Branding and Website Development
Cameron Penny, Director, EMEA
Joyce Lee, APAC Account Manager/Hong Kong
Montieth & Company is a global specialist communications consultancy that provides a fully integrated set of communications services and solutions that deliver high-value, measurable outcomes for organizations across sectors and global money and media markets. Montieth & Company’s flexible, integrated, and budget-efficient cross-border business model enables us to reach into over 25 media markets via our global hubs in New York, London and Hong Kong, and our affiliates around the globe.
Our clients include companies in asset management, financial research, risk-focused data and analytics, business intelligence/ knowledge process outsourcing, cyber and physical security, compliance, law, corporate shareholder services, renewable energy, online trading, fintech, proptech, insurtech, the art market, blockchain, AI and other emerging technologies.
We help these clients achieve influence, realize their ambitions and solve their most critical problems. Central to our value-add is supporting key client corporate initiatives. These range from seeking private equity investments, making strategic acquisitions, moving into new markets globally and expanding profitable market share. The firm’s expertise in financial services enables us to bring both realms of expertise to assisting our professional services clients on these initiatives.
The firm offers clients a full suite of PR services, including marketing communications, corporate and
financial communications, issues management and crisis communications, litigation PR, and public affairs and government relations. M&Co also provides branding and website design and development, multi-media marketing, influencer strategies, as well as video and podcast production.
STANTON
909 Third Ave. New York, NY 10022 212/366-5300 astanton@stantonprm.com www.stantonprm.com
Tom Faust, Charlyn Lusk, Managing Directors
Liam Collopy, Matthew Conroy, Michael Goodwin, Scott Lessne, Katrin Lieberwirth, SVPs
Stanton is a strategic communications partner to global firms, mid-size leaders and entrepreneurial enterprises with deep expertise serving professional services firms including law firms, investment banks, financial advisors, accounting firms, and operational partners. Our combination of smart strategy, innovative thinking and first-class execution produces business-changing results for our clients.
In addition to our deep sector experience, Stanton is a preferred partner due to our practitioner model where our senior professionals spend the majority of their time on client work. Our flexible and collaborative approach and responsive, bureaucracy-free service are the hallmarks of our long-standing client relationships.
With teams in New York and the San Francisco Bay Area, Stanton supports clients through strategy, media relations, content development and marketing, design and production, executive visibility, thought leadership, crisis management, analyst relations, social media management and more.
Professional services clients include: Berding & Weil, Carl Marks Advisors, E78, Efficio, Gen II Fund Services, Getzler Henrich & Associates and Winston & Strawn
TIER ONE PARTNERS
129 South Street Boston, MA 02111 617/918-7060
209 W. Jackson Blvd. Chicago, IL 60606
708/421-0083
www.tieronepr.com
Marian Hughes, Co-Founder, Managing Partner, Chicago Kathy Wilson, Co-Founder, Managing Partner, Boston
Now in our 20th year, Tier One Partners is a woman founded and led integrated marketing agency. We are an award-winning team of strategic thinkers, trendspotters, creators, and digital changemakers who are agile and proactive by design. Our earned media, creative content, and digital marketing strategies, combined with our relentless pursuit of results, bring our clients’ visions and missions to the forefront—and keep them there.
Tier One’s financial services/fintech experience includes a range of sectors including digital banking, payment platforms, investment brokerages and back-end online trading technologies, and financial performance software. On the professional services side, we’ve supported companies in sectors including data and analytics, adtech, and cloud/SaaS technology.
We’re proud of our campaigns to build awareness and category domination for organizations including Ally Financial, TradeKing, iVest+, Geisecke + Devrient, Nephila, Velocity Risk, Velocity Capital, Prophix, Centrilogic, 3Pillar, 55, and others. Our experience with the national business, financial, and technology media runs deep, and we know the way “in” to the kinds of stories our clients care about.
The collective talent, work ethic, and heart Tier One puts against our clients’ businesses is the foundation of everything we do. Our agency is composed of curious self-starters who think beyond the obvious, overcome obstacles, and make communications magic happen. From day one, we’re committed to earning our clients’ trust and executing creative, data-informed programs that catapult them to the forefront of their industries.
Tier One’s differentiator is our Agile Insights & Analytics practice, which tracks changing issues and trends. Through daily immersion in news and culture, we uncover connections and commonalities to authentically position our clients within the business and cultural dialogue. This helps them stay relevant, swiftly seize opportunities, and elevate their brand visibility.
Co-headquartered in Boston and Chicago, Tier One is a certified women owned business.
O’DWYER’S RANKINGS
Kamala’s PR makeover
By Fraser Seitel
After months of debate and indecision, America’s two political parties have now settled on the two most capable and deserving individuals to lead us as a nation.
Accordingly, now’s the moment to recommend to these two talented combatants the public relations course that each must follow to seize the brass ring in November.
text, The Practice of Public Relations.
First, some sage public relations counsel for Donald Trump. Nah, forget it. Trump doesn’t listen to anybody’s advice. He’s Trump.
So, what about Kamala Harris, whose momentary media honeymoon will soon give way to the harsher reality of battling uphill in the only states that matter: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona and a few others?
How do you bottle Harris’ current public relations momentum to sustain her mojo over the next four months against a battle-tested—not to mention battle-wounded—Trump?
The answer, dear Kamala crusaders, is you give her a public relations makeover, consisting of several specific suggestions to include the following: Lose the laugh
First and foremost, Harris must be counseled—and likely already has been—to check herself before succumbing to a chortle. Fair or unfair, sexist or not, the Kamala cackle—a spontaneous, deep-throated, uncontrollable, elongated guffaw—has become a Trumpian talking point and right-wing media soundbite that can only become more pointedly embarrassing with repeated fresh examples.
Harris and her defenders have argued that the laugh—which the candidate proudly proclaims she inherited from her mother— shouldn’t be anybody else’s business. “It’s important,” Kamala told interviewer Drew Barrymore, “that we not be confined by other people’s perceptions about what this looks like and how you should act.” And of course, she’s right.
But … if you’re running for President, trailed 24/7 by unforgiving TV cameras and wish to keep the focus squarely on your competence and capability to confront the world’s problems, lose the freaking laugh. Avoid attempts at eloquence
Let’s be honest. As a public speaker, Kamala Harris is no Barack Obama or Ronald Reagan or Jesse Jackson or Martin Luther King. But neither, for that matter, is Joe Biden or George W. Bush or, God save us, Donald Trump.
So, the essence of the public addresses she delivers—two or three a day from here on in—should be simplicity. Simple statements, simple logic, simple language. Nothing complicated, heroic or profound. Common sense over grandiloquence.
In the past, Harris has been tripped up repeatedly by trying to sound too smart on stage. Fox News’ favorite Kamala word salad loop features her infamous Howard University remarks, in which she memorably uttered: “I think it’s very important, as you have heard from so many incredible leaders, for us, at every moment in time, and certainly this one, to see the moment in time in which we exist and are present, and to be able to contextualize it, to understand where we exist in the history and in the moment, as it relates not only to the past but the future.”
The antidote to delivering remarks that come across as pretentiousness masquerading as pretend profundity is to be yourself, speak conversationally and express your simple truth. That was Ronald Reagan’s secret. His words were always simple but also usually heartfelt and wise. For example, “I know in my heart that man is good. That what is right will eventually triumph. And there’s purpose and worth to each and every life.” Amen, brother.
Reagan ought to be Kamala Harris’ oratorical North Star.
Limit hand gestures
Harris, like a lot of people, tends to talk with her hands. When she speaks, her hands are in constant motion; exhorting her audience, defining the parameters of her arguments, puncturing the air to make her points. All of which probably makes great sense for a prosecutor, which she was.
But for a Presidential candidate, whose every remark is recorded, replayed and dissected by everyone from self-righteous TV commentators to self-acknowledged body language experts, her expansive, non-stop gesturing can become yet another irritating impediment.
So, just as she needs to bridle her laugh, Harris needs to clip her gestures. She should
stick to gestures that are more contained, infrequent and purposeful. Take a look at her recent speech before the teachers’ union in Houston, which shows she’s learning.
Go after the guns
Finally, in terms of content, Harris should be unrelenting on one subject in particular: gun control.
That’s where Trump and the Republicans are most vulnerable. Harris and the Democrats are damagingly delinquent on hot-button issues like immigration and crime, no matter how she or they attempt to rewrite history. They’ve lost that battle. On the other hand, in terms of abortion and women’s rights, the Democrats have won. But Trump has gotten the message. He understands the abortion issue is a loser for Republicans and has already shifted to a more moderate position.
But on the continuing issue of guns— background checks, automatic weapons availability, restrictions on gun ownership—Trump and the Republicans remain woefully vulnerable. Trump, himself a survivor of gun violence, is petrified of alienating Second Amendment supporters in western states. So, he has no answer for the Democrats’ full-throated appeals to legislate against America’s gun madness.
Harris should unhesitatingly lead that offensive toward greater gun control. The vast majority of Americans—including in swing states—will believe her. Gun control is the most resonant issue she’s got.
All that said, the Presidential election is still months away. Harris’ honeymoon will soon be over, and Trump is a vicious adversary, who so far is winning. But Americans are famously known for possessing the attention span of a flea. And these days in America, nothing is a sure thing. So, the outcome of the 2024 Harris v. Trump election is very much up for grabs. Especially if Kamala stays serious about her public relations makeover.
PR news brief
Trevelino/Keller acquires Marsden Marketing
Trevelino/Keller has acquired Marsden Marketing. While Marsden will eventually become part of the Trevelino/Keller brand, for now its brand and website remain active. Marsden prinicipals Anne Marsden and Suzanne Moore join Trevelino/Keller as full-time Senior Consultants. Marsden Client Success Director Jeffrey Willis joins the Trevelino/Keller management team as VP, Growth Marketing. The Marsden acquisition brings deep experience across digital advertising, demand generation and account-based marketing, three areas that align with Trevelino/Keller’s Inbound/Outbound/Reputation Marketing platform.
Fraser P. Seitel has been a communications consultant, author and teacher for more than 30 years. He is the author of the Prentice-Hall
Partnering with professional services providers
By Lori Graham and Kelsey Campbell
One of the key advantages of successful PR and marketing firms is their ability to scale up and down with different professional services firms and resources. It might not make sense to have a full accounting team; it might not make sense to have a business affairs person, or even a head of HR depending on your size. Many times, however, when a big project comes in, with the right professional service provider, you’ll be able to flex your team through different consultants and contractors.
While the ability to utilize these resources is key to running a successful firm, the management of these relationships is even more important. Are you utilizing your professional services teams to their full extent? Are you getting out of them everything you’re hoping for (or paying for)? This month, we’re talking about the best ways to utilize those relationships. It’s in our nature to think we can accomplish more within a timeframe than what’s actually possible. We have great intentions! We create a list of all the tasks we think won’t take a lot of time with the thought that it will be just as easy to complete them as it was to create the list in the first place. And then, as we start working through the list, there’s an interruption, a more pressing matter. The list gets set aside and forgotten. The quandary is that the tasks really do need to be completed, but how are they going to be completed and by whom?
Many times, agency leaders view operational functions as something they can easily complete: Create a list and tick things off when they’re done. The reward being a sense of accomplishment and possibly a cost savings to the agency. The complication is that agency leaders are the helm
of the organization, driving growth, problem-solving and creating a vision that will transcend into the future.
When agency leaders are faced with too many operational tasks, meaningful partnerships with professional services providers is an essential tool. The following are three key items to ensure these partnerships provide much more than just a service.
Choosing the right provider
A key to selecting the right professional services provider is to think beyond what you want to accomplish. For instance, your firm needs someone to provide accounting services—process payables, possibly create client invoicing—but overall provide financial statements. When searching for a provider, look for someone with your industry knowledge and, if possible, someone who has worked within the industry. These are the people that understand your business and can provide more strategic value. The professional services firms you work with should feel like members of your team who work in a different part of the office. They should celebrate your wins with you, be there on tough days and be such an integral part of the team that you invite them to the holiday party.
Open communication
When partnering with a professional services provider, a key component is open communication. Sharing your company’s values and goals will help your services provider to customize their collaboration.
As with the example of an outsourced accounting service provider, letting them know your growth initiatives and economic struggles will help them to provide key performance indicators and trend analysis that will provide decision-making tools. Another example is when resourcing additional team members, make sure the staffing agency understands the skills and personality types that are necessary for the projects that are upcoming and most important to your agency. Regular discussions will provide your professional services provider with insight into the barometer of your business.
Accountability
As with any relationship, accountability is a key element for both parties. As the buyer of services, you rightfully expect work to be done timely. A factor to remember is that when your professional services provider makes a request of you—e.g., pass along data, updates, etc.—completing the request promptly will allow them to execute efficiently. A helpful tool in keeping everyone on track is to ask your services provider to maintain a tracker so that each participant can easily be aware of the status. These takeaways are just the basis to building a robust and lasting partnership with your professional services provider. While this takes time, the benefit of creating this relationship means that you have a resource invested in your business’s success, while at the same time allowing you the time to be an effective leader.
Americans spending more time on Reddit
Reddit is gaining in popularity in terms of the daily time users spend on that platform, while the average daily time spent on other popular social media networks is dwindling, according to recent findings by digital market research company eMarketer.
eMarketer’s latest forecast found that among social media networks, Reddit has seen the greatest growth in terms of daily average time spent by active U.S. users. The community site, which went public earlier this year, will see users spend 11 percent more of their time on that platform this year than in 2023, eMarketer predicts.
According to eMarketer, daily time spent by Reddit users will average 31 minutes in 2024, up from 28 minutes last year.
Meta’s Instagram is also anticipated to become more popular in 2024, with users increasing their average daily time on that platform by 1.3 percent compared to last year.
The outlook isn’t as sunny for other plat-
By Jon Gingerich
forms, according to the report. Meta’s flagship platform Facebook, which still dominates the social media landscape in terms of monthly active users, has seen user growth slip in recent years and will also see average user time dip by about -1.2 percent in 2024.
Surprisingly, eMarketer predicts that wildly popular short-form video platform TikTok will also see a slowdown in daily user activity this year, as that site is expected to witness a -1.2 percent slip in average time spent per day compared to 2023.
X (formerly Twitter), which has suffered a litany of problems since Elon Musk’s 2022 takeover, is expected to similarly experience a -3.8 percent decline in user time. Messaging app Snapchat will see its user time decline by about -4.5 percent, according to eMarketer’s predictions.
eMarketer predicts that Reddit’s U.S. ad revenue will grow by 28 percent this year to account for about $741 million.
Lori Graham and Kelsey Campbell provide accounting, and consulting services to Professional Service Organizations at Armanino LLP.
PR leaders call for civility
Rubenstein Communications’ Steven Rubenstein, Ruder Finn’s Kathy Bloomgarden, Hiltzik Strategies’ Matthew Hiltzik, FINN Partners’ Peter Finn, and Global Strategy Group’s Jonathan Silvan are the PR leaders who signed the Partnership for New York City’s statement calling for civility in the wake of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.
The Partnership said the attack should be a wake-up call for all. “We call upon our fellow American to reject violence it all its forms and pledge to uphold the basic standards of civility and respect for our differences in the workplace, in the political arena, and in our society as a whole,” reads the statement.
News Corp’s CEO Robert Thomson, Conde Nast’s Roger Lynch, US News & World Report’s Eric Gertler, Vox Media’s Pamela Wasserstein, and Hearst’s Steven Swartz are the media representatives who joined the call for civility.
FH works to improve UN rep in the U.S.
The Better World Campaign has hired FleishmanHillard for strategic communications and PA to strengthen support for the work of the United Nations in the US.
Headquartered in Washington, BWC launched in 1999 following entrepreneur Ted Turner’s $1 billion donation to advance global peace, security and health through the UN.
BWC engages with American policymakers, media and the public to increase awareness of the critical role that the UN plays in world affairs.
FH’s international affairs and PA team and members of DDC Public Affairs handle the BWC push.
“The U.N. is a critical forum for the U.S.—and the American people—to safeguard our interests and navigate global uncertainty at a time when the world is rife with challenges,” said Colin Hart, FH Partner.
Axel Springer targets D.C. policymakers
Axel Springer, the German media combine that owns the Politico news site and Business Insider, has stepped up its push at U.S. policymakers.
Amelia Wang Binder, who joined Axel Springer in December as VP-head of U.S. government affairs, registered July 22 as the company’s first lobbyist.
Previously she did a nine-year stint as Senior VP-Government Affairs at the National Publishers’ Assn., and was Chief of Staff for California Congresswoman Judy Chu.
Binder is focused on policy issues related to copyright and artificial intelligence, specifically licensing and fair compensation for the use of journalistic content.
She also will tackle the Journalism Competition Preservation Act 2023 (S. 1094), which allows publishers to collectively negotiate with dominant online platforms regarding the terms for distributing news content.
Axel Springer was the first publisher to partner with OpenAI. It provides summaries of selected content from Politico, Business Insider and German papers BLD and WELT for OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot and virtual assistant.
The partnership also involves the use of Axel Springer media
brands for
MetLife hires Petrosino for D.C. outreach
MetLife has hired Nicole Petrosino as VP-US. Government Relations to lead the New York-based insurer’s Capitol Hill advocacy on behalf of retirement and financial services policy matters.
Based in D.C., she reports to Chris Rosello, head U.S. Government Relations.
Petrosino served in the George W. Bush Administration as Director in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs, and a Legislative Assistant in the Office of Management and Budget.
She joins MetLife from the Senior VP-Government Relations position at LPL Financial.
Previously, Petrosino was a VP in MasterCard’s government relations unit and a staffer in TIAA-CREF’s lobbying shop.
Petrosino has a proven track record of building strong relationships with policymakers and stakeholders, according to Rosello.
“She will be a valuable asset to MetLife as we continue to advocate for policies that support our customers and our business,” he said.
DOD alum joins AeroVironment
René Carbone Bardorf, who was former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, has joined AeroVironment as VP of Marketing and Communications.
The Arlington-based defense contractor produces the Switchblade kamikaze drone. It posted $716 million in revenues and earned $60 million during the fiscal year ended April 30.
Most recently Bardorf was at Business Executives for National Security, where she served as SVP, Communications.
Her previous positions have included Principal and Managing Partner at DCB Advisors and SVP for Government Relations at Wounded Warrior Project.
In her new post, she will lead AV’s global strategic marketing and oversee all facets of corporate communications strategy and execution.
René Carbone Bardorf
Nicole Petrosino
advancing the training of OpenAI’s sophisticated large language models.
Edelman reps $30B UAE climate fund
Edelman is providing strategic communications services and handling events for Alterra Management Ltd, the $30 billion climate-focused investment fund launched by the United Arab Emirates.
Alterra ironed out $6.5 billion in deals late last year with BlackRock, TPG Inc. and Brookfield Asset Management.
It teamed with BAM in June for the $5 billion Catalytic Transition Fund to invest in clean energy and transitional technologies in developing countries.
Edelman’s one-year contract has a monthly retainer of $45,000.
It calls for providing senior counsel to Alterrak’s CEO and top management team.
The firm is to station a staffer in Alterra’s Abu Dhabi office five days per week. The staffer must have strong English copywriting skills and an understanding of the investment industry. A bilingual person is preferred, and knowledge of sustainability practices is a plus.
Simon Haines, Managing Director of Edelman Smithfield’s Middle East operations heads the Alterra business.
Teneo taps Labour Party veteran
Teneo has named Ben Bradshaw, a veteran Labour Party politico and former member of the UK parliament, Senior Advisor for Political and Policy Matters.
The move comes as Labour leader Keir Starmer settles in as Britain’s prime minister.
Bradshaw served in the Labour governments of Gordon Brown
FARA News
and Tony Blair.
In Brown’s administration, Bradshaw was Minister of State for Health Services and Minister of State for Local Environment, Marine and Animal Welfare.
Under Blair, he was Deputy Leader of the House of Commons and Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Nick Claydon, CEO of Teneo’s UK strategy and communications unit, said Bradshaw’s deep insights and experience will help clients understand the priorities and approach of the new Labour administration.
Potter takes Burson’s top PA post
Damion Potter, former British diplomat and trade & economic development representative, has joined Burson as Global Chair of its Public Affairs Operation.
Most recently, Potter headed global policy and government affairs at Haleon, the consumer healthcare spin-off from GSK. Haleon ranked as the biggest listing on the London stock exchange in the past two decades.
Before Haleon, Potter led the delivery department for the UN Climate Change Conference hosted in Glasgow (COP26). Representing the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, he advised the British government on policy and implementation of the World Leader Summit.
Potter also served as the UK ambassador to Panama and held trade and investment posts in Moscow and Taipei.
Based in London, Potter will handle Burson’s global PA teams, as well as its specialty units including Prime Policy Group, Direct Impact and Dewey Square Group.
WPP owns Burson.
NEW FOREIGN AGENTS REGISTRATION ACT FILINGS
Below is a list of select companies that have registered with the U.S. Department of Justice, FARA Registration Unit, Washington, D.C., in order to comply with the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, regarding their consulting and communications work on behalf of foreign principals, including governments, political parties, organizations, and individuals. For a complete list of filings, visit www.fara.gov.
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP, Denver, Colo., registered July 5, 2024 for TAPI Pipeline Company Limited, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, (for Turkmenistan), regarding providing political consultancy and advisory services in relation to securing U.S. and European political support and requisite licenses and permits for the TAPI pipeline project. The TAPI Pipeline Co. is controlled by Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Washington, D.C., registered July 1, 2024 for Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Washington, D.C., concerning advising the Embassy on ways to strengthen economic policies, trade, political and security relations with the United States and engaging in communication with members of Congress, their staffs, and the Administration.
Matrix Aviation Inc., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., registered July 8, 2024 for Ministry of National Defense of Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador, regarding assisting the Ministry in accessing new funds or expanding existing Foreign Military Finance (FMF) programs with the U.S. government and implementing the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) Ecuador program.
Lobbying News
NEW LOBBYING DISCLOSURE ACT FILINGS
Below is a list of select companies that have registered with the Secretary of the Senate, Office of Public Records, and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Legislative Resource Center, Washington, D.C., in order to comply with the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. For a complete list of filings, visit www.senate.gov.
Alston & Bird LLP, Washington, D.C., registered July 5, 2024 for Kerecis, Arlington, Va., concerning general health care issues related to Medicare coverage policies.
The Campbell Consulting Group, Columbia S.C., registered July 17, 2024 for Electrolux, Charlotte, N.C., regarding trade and tariff issues.
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc., Washington, D.C., registered July 16, 2024 for America’s VetDogs, Smithtown, N.Y., regarding the Working Dog Commemorative Coin Act, NDAA, and the Wounded Warrior Service Dog Program.
Quill Advisers LLC, Washington, D.C., registered July 15, 2024 for Reinsurance Group of America, Chesterfield, Mo., concerning pensions, pension risk transfer, international trade, data privacy and international insurance issues.
Interview with Richard Dukas, Founder and CEO of Dukas Linden PR
By John O’Dwyer
Richard Dukas, Founder and CEO of Dukas Linden PR, a financial services PR specialist headquartered in New York City and #10 on O’Dwyer’s ranking of financial PR firms, talked with O’Dwyer’s about life running an independent agency, tackling election-year obstacles, employing AI, and the post-COVID work environment.
How did you get started in PR?
My eyes were opened to the tremendous effect the media has on public opinion when I was a senior at the University of Maryland during Israel’s first war in Lebanon. I learned how powerful the media is in shaping opinions—and even U.S. foreign policy.
I was accepted into law school but wasn’t crazy about the idea of actually practicing law. I loved current events, policy, and, of course, media and communications. So, I deferred law school and became the first employee at an agency whose founder I had met through a media advocacy organization that I had helped to start. That run lasted seven years until he sold to Ruder Finn, where I was for two years. I valued my time at both firms, where I learned from some of the finest people in the industry.
After that I worked at two other midsized agencies and was then fortunate to land an in-house position at a money management firm.
But in the back of my mind, I felt I had learned enough from those running their own agencies to feel confident that I was just as qualified, so in 2002, at the age of 40, I started out on my own.
What is the culture like at your firm?
One of the lasting takeaways from my prior agency experience is that there can often be a lack of compassion from management or between coworkers.
For example, I remember remarking to a senior partner at one firm I worked for that I was proud I had reached my one-year anniversary, and all I got in reply was, “That’s nothing. Talk to me on your second anniversary!”
I knew when I started my own firm, I wanted to respect the people who came to work for me. There’s no reason to be harsh or competitive with each other—my partner, Seth Linden, and I believe that a positive work culture begins at the top.
DLPR is an independent agency that values growth as well as a strong work-life bal-
ance. Because of this, and the firm’s positive culture, our employee turnover is extremely low.
Markets are soaring. How are your clients feeling?
Overall, clients are optimistic and our business is strong, but the economy and markets remain volatile, and the media landscape is more crowded and competitive than ever—especially given the presidential election, which sucks up air time and reporters’ attention. Clients need an integrated approach, so DLPR has diversified its service offerings into many other areas, including crisis comms/reputation management, messaging, content creation/thought leadership, transactional work and more.
What’s your take on crypto and digital assets?
We’re believers in the industry, but it’s critical to separate the wheat from the chaff since it’s a bit like the Wild West. Our clients in the space are highly credible, institutional-like players. For example, three of them were among a handful of asset managers that received SEC approval for spot Bitcoin ETFs, and we were front-and-center for one of the biggest, most exciting business stories of the year.
Should clients wade into election waters?
We don’t believe clients should take a partisan view, but it is important—and a good opportunity—for some to discuss how proposed policies put forward by both sides can impact markets.
It’s important to know when to speak, and when not to. A corporate spokesperson has to be skilled at handling difficult questions, “blocking and bridging” successfully, and trying to avoid the appearance of endorsing one party over the other because they are likely to alienate half of their target market given the highly polarized environment.
That’s where having seasoned communications counsel is particularly valuable. We do extensive messaging and media coaching sessions around key issues.
Talk of AI is everywhere, how are you approaching it?
It’s still very early on, and while AI will undoubtedly affect our clients and business going forward, the extent of that impact remains to be seen.
PR will always be about relationships and high-level strategic counsel. I have used Microsoft Copilot at times to assist with writing and editing, but in my opinion, AI is not ready to be used as a competitive advantage for practice management, media relations or high-quality content creation. We have talented and experienced content strategists and writers who run circles around ChatGPT. There is a marked difference between human intelligence and creativity and AI—at least for now.
What do you look for in new hires?
I’ve noticed that a lot of college graduates interested in finance aren’t even thinking about PR and go directly into banking and technology. My son is a rising senior in college, and most of his friends and peers are targeting finance and consulting. That means it can be difficult to find entry-level employees with both financial acumen and public relations/communications interest. What I’m looking for in an entry-level hire is someone who has a modicum of PR experience and is willing to learn about financial markets.
The first thing I do when interviewing any prospective employee is ask them to tell me a little about themselves. If you can’t sell yourself to me, how can you sell our clients to their target audiences?
For more experienced hires, a strong network—both of media contacts and potential new business prospects—is a plus. And bringing a strong, specialized skill set— such as special situations PR, client management or content development—is very valuable.
Are you back in the office?
We’re hybrid and still thinking through the right mix of remote and in-office. I love seeing the team in the office together, but I understand the benefits of a hybrid work schedule.
Fundamentally, we are social beings, and we thrive on human interaction—with our clients, with the media and with each other. But we’ve also adapted to working from home and are fortunate to have tools to help us do it seamlessly, allowing us to prioritize the work-life balance I spoke of earlier. For us, a hybrid arrangement provides the best of both worlds and will for the foreseeable future.
