Author: ally
PPHC Completes Second Cycle of Summer Fellowship Program
Pictured from left to right: Syeria Alvarado | Howard University Class of 2024, Tanner “TJ” Edwards | UNC Chapel Hill Class of 2024, Anamei Walli | University of Kentucky Class of 2026, Sadad Salahuddin | University of Southern California Class of 2024
The PPHC 2024 Summer Fellowship Program concluded this week, marking the end of its second successful rotation. By leveraging the size and scope of expertise across PPHC’s leading member companies, this highly competitive Group-wide initiative provides a select cohort of students and recent graduates with diverse opportunities to collaborate and partner with PPHC’s leaders and industry experts. The program aims to provide an immersive experience for emerging professionals from groups who are traditionally underrepresented in the government relations and advocacy fields, to equip them with essential skills and knowledge necessary for a career in public policy, and to expose them to the unique political and professional landscape of Washington, DC.
Over the span of 12 weeks, the four distinguished fellows engaged in a comprehensive rotational experience, acquiring valuable insights and skills at PPHC member firms while being mentored by industry experts. The fellows spent a dedicated week at each participating company, including a “California week” that integrated recently acquired Lucas Public Affairs with KP Public Affairs. Additionally, the program featured designated “flex weeks,” allowing fellows to conduct focused independent research, as well as “Professional Development Week” which included career development workshops, as well as opportunities to gain insights from PPHC’s C-Suite and leadership team.
Ron Starzman, EVP of Human Resources, PPHC:
“Diversity, in all forms, accelerates innovation. And innovation is a critical component to long-term success. PPHC’s Fellowship Program truly reflects the richness of our diverse organization. We are very proud of our program, as well as our very talented fellows, and we look forward to watching them continue to grow, learn, and thrive in ways that will enrich their futures and the future of our industry.”
Retirement of Bill Chess
With mixed emotions, we announce the retirement of Bill Chess from his role as Chief Administrative Officer of PPHC. While stepping back from day-to-day operations, Bill will continue as a strategic consultant and valued Board member.
The PPHC team extends its deepest gratitude to Bill for his exceptional leadership. Co-founding PPHC in 2014 and serving as CFO until July 2023, Bill’s vision and strategic acumen have been instrumental in shaping PPHC into the global organization it is today.
A mentor and friend to many, Bill has been a cornerstone of PPHC, fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration. We celebrate his distinguished career and look forward to his continued guidance.
Stewart Hall, CEO:
“PPHC wouldn’t exist without Bill. From our inception to our current international presence, his pivotal role cannot be overstated. Bill’s foresight and dedication have molded us into who we are today. We’re deeply grateful for his unwavering belief in our company and its people. His friendship and leadership have been foundational to our success. Please join me in thanking Bill for his wisdom, loyalty, and immeasurable contributions.”
Jill Kendrick, COO:
“Bill always emphasized that people make the difference, a principle that now defines PPHC. We’re thankful for Bill being one of those difference-makers. His tireless devotion, vision, and wisdom have not only brought us to where we are but have also created the blueprint for our future success.”
Bill Chess, Non-Executive Director:
“Everyone reaches a time in life to move on, and now that such a great team is in place at PPHC, my time has come. It was the most enjoyable time of my life to start with Stewart’s vision twelve years ago and then, along with Stewart and Jill, acquire companies and build a staff to make our dream become reality. Our ‘baby’ is growing quickly and most importantly we have not wavered from our original principles of adding the best companies and staff. I’ll continue to watch the future progress with great anticipation.”
PRovoke Media Headliners: Oliver Foster
From PRovoke Media:
In this week’s Q&A, we speak to Oliver Foster, the CEO of UK strategic communications firm Pagefield, which has been acquired by US public affairs group PPHC.
What are the greatest challenges and opportunities for the PR and communications industry over the next 12 months?
It’s a big year of elections around the world and so, whatever the results, a lot of disruption is already happening – politically, socially and economically. But change is also an opportunity – for new connections and trying new approaches to campaigning.
PPHC Acquires Leading London Firm Pagefield to Anchor UK & European Network
Industry-leading government relations and public affairs group adds first international presence with acquisition of UK consultancy
Washington, DC and London, UK – PPHC, the government relations and public affairs holding company, has acquired Pagefield Communications Limited (“Pagefield”), a UK-based strategic communications firm headquartered in London, for an initial consideration of £16.2m, establishing a foothold outside the US for the first time.
PPHC has been targeting acquisitions within the key political capitals of London and Brussels, as well as into further key US state capitals, to broaden its geographical presence. The Group’s healthy M&A pipeline is reflected by the pace of dealmaking, as the Pagefield deal follows the acquisition of Lucas Public Affairs (“LPA”) based in Sacramento, CA on 1 May 2024. Today’s announcement is PPHC’s fourth significant acquisition since IPO in December 2021 on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM, and Pagefield becomes the 10th complementary brand to sit under the Group’s growing umbrella.
The addition of Pagefield marks a significant step towards PPHC’s stated goal of being the world’s premier provider of government relations and integrated communications services for corporate interests and NGOs, and further solidifies its position as an industry leader. Founded in 2010, Pagefield has earned widespread recognition for its excellence and impact in helping clients navigate the UK’s complex legislative and regulatory environment and is known for high-level reputation, issues management and strategic communications campaigns. Comprising an entirely cross-party team of 36 full-time employees, the firm has deep familiarity with the UK’s political, business and media landscapes.
As with each of PPHC’s specialist firms, Pagefield will operate independently as a wholly owned subsidiary, maintaining its distinct brand identity and management team. The acquisition sets the stage for significant synergies between the Group’s network of more than 1,200 clients and 350+ policy and communications experts. Going forward, Pagefield will serve as a critical anchor for PPHC’s further expansion into Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
“The consequential nature of UK – and US – public policy at this very moment demonstrates why having leading strategists working in collaboration is so important to clients across the globe. This is a major milestone for PPHC and it is only possible because the shared strategic goals between Pagefield and PPHC were clear from the very start,” said Stewart Hall, PPHC CEO. “The addition of Pagefield’s experienced team will help us ensure our clients’ needs are met in an increasingly complex public policy and regulatory environment. The myriad of risks and opportunities faced by corporate and NGO leaders are no longer determined by borders or time zones. PPHC is uniquely positioned to advance our clients’ interests at a particularly determinative time in our political and cultural history.”
“We seek partners, not just acquisitions. And after an extensive, multi-year search for a consultancy which is capable to serve our clients and help fuel our growth internationally, to find Pagefield at an inflection point themselves was true serendipity,” added Thomas Gensemer, PPHC Chief Strategy Officer, who also leads the Group’s international expansion. “Our goal is to be the premier provider of government relations and integrated communications around the world and we remain on the lookout for high quality consultancy partners in the UK, internationally and in additional states across the US. Our pipeline of acquisition opportunities under development remains extremely healthy as we solidify our positions.”
Oliver Foster, CEO of Pagefield, commented:
“We are delighted to be joining the PPHC family whilst maintaining the Pagefield brand, ethos and values. This next phase in our growth will open up a huge well of professional – and international – expertise to our clients. We already advise and represent a number of international clients in the UK, and PPHC works with a number of UK clients in the US. Therefore, the long-term client benefits were crystal clear from the moment we began our discussions and the opportunities for professional collaboration to add further value to current, new and shared clients is incredibly exciting.”
Mark Gallagher, Co-Founder of Pagefield, added:
“I am thrilled that we have found a terrific new home for Pagefield and our exceptional team – a prerequisite for the future of a company we founded some fourteen years ago. Today we are laying the foundation stone of what I have no doubt will be a transatlantic PR powerhouse. As founders of the business, Sara Price and I are also delighted to maintain our involvement in Pagefield and to have a stake in the future success of PPHC as a whole.”
In addition to the 1 May acquisition of LPA, the Pagefield deal follows the 1 March 2023 acquisition of MultiState Associates, the Washington, DC firm which specialises in state-based government relations across the US and Canadian provinces and territories and the November 2023 launch of Concordant, a new corporate communications advisory, based in Chicago.
PPHC’s other brands include Alpine Group Partners, Crossroads Strategies, Forbes Tate Partners, KP Public Affairs, O’Neill & Associates and Seven Letter.
PPHC is listed on the Alternative Investment Market (“AIM”) of the London Stock Exchange (Ticker: PPHC)
Concordant announces appointment of Debbie Anderson-Brooke as President
Andrew Stern also joins as Vice President of Media Relations
WASHINGTON– Concordant, the policy and communications advisory firm designed to serve organizations at the crossroads of market risk and transformational growth, today announces the appointment of Debbie Anderson-Brooke as President. Debbie will be based in Seattle, Washington where she will also lead West Coast operations and the firm’s AI, Data and Robotics practice group.
Debbie brings more than 30 years of communications experience to Concordant, both within large corporate cultures such as Microsoft and Intel and in founder-based, high-growth environments. Throughout her career, Debbie has earned a reputation as a partner to global tech industry leaders, developing brand, communications and marketing strategies to lead complex, multi-stakeholder environments toward commercial success.
Anchored within Public Policy Holding Company, Inc. (PPHC) (AIM: PPHC), the world’s largest multi-jurisdictional policy and public affairs group, Concordant integrates business strategy with industry-leading government relations, full-service, strategic communications, public affairs and audience insight capabilities to provide their clients with more control over their operating landscape.
“From AI and data privacy to the energy transition, personalized medicine and more, policymakers and journalists are shaping the themes that will define the market and influence society for a generation,” said Sarah Wills, CEO of Concordant. “Debbie’s deep expertise integrating strategic communications and marketing in the technology industry will help our clients unlock value across markets, economies and sectors.”
“In 2024, CEOs and Boards are leading through a complex and rapidly changing landscape,” said Debbie Anderson-Brooke. “I’ve partnered with senior executives at companies large and small, and experienced the growing demand for a trusted advisor who can help organizations navigate multi-stakeholder environments. I’m excited to work with Sarah and the team to bring that experience to Concordant and PPHC’s clients.”
The company today also announces the appointment of Andrew Stern to the role of Vice President, Media Relations.
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About Concordant
A subsidiary of PPHC, the world’s largest multi-jurisdictional policy and public affairs group, Concordant extends beyond reputation and risk management, weaving together industry-leading government relations, public affairs, audience insight capabilities and full-service, strategic communications to protect and propel an organization’s strategy. In a landscape often complicated by fragmentation and inefficiency, Concordant is distinguished by a cohesive client experience, delivering results under a unified plan, team, and pricing structure.
For more information, visit www.concordantadvisory.com.
Media Contact:
Andrew Stern
andrew.stern@concordantadvisory.com
Partner Casey Hernandez Joins Seven Letter’s Corporate Communications Practice
Seven Letter, an expertise-powered bipartisan strategic communications firm with offices in Washington & Boston, today announced the addition of Casey Hernandez as a Partner to its growing team of communicators.
An accomplished communications executive with two decades of corporate and political communications experience, Casey was most recently senior vice president for global corporate communications at Herbalife, a publicly traded nutrition and wellness company headquartered in Los Angeles, where she managed the company’s overall communications strategy, including CEO positioning and communications, media relations, internal communications, creative content development, ESG communications and social media engagement.
Also joining the firm are Anthony Nerantzis as a Director; Abbey Fitzpatrick, Georgia Shanker and Radeeyah Khan as Content Specialists; Annie Phifer as a Manager for Seven Letter Insight; and Hedi Haleem as Director of Administration.
Erik Smith, CEO of Seven Letter commented:
“We’re incredibly proud of the team we’ve built at Seven Letter, and it just keeps getting stronger. In their short time with us, Anthony, Abbey, Georgia, Radeeyah, Annie and Hedi have all already deployed their diverse perspectives to make insightful contributions to everything from crisis engagements to message research to office administration.”
PPHC Acquires Lucas Public Affairs
Earnings accretive acquisition expands Group presence in key California market
Public Policy Holding Company (AIM: PPHC), the government relations and public affairs group providing clients with a fully integrated and comprehensive range of services, has acquired Lucas Public Affairs, LLC (“LPA”), a premier California-based public affairs firm (the “Acquisition”), for an initial consideration of $7.5 million. The Acquisition is immediately accretive to the Group’s underlying earnings.
This is PPHC’s third significant acquisition since IPO in December 2021 and LPA becomes the 9th brand to sit within the Group’s broad umbrella.
Based in Sacramento, California and founded in 2006, LPA is led by Donna Lucas, CEO, and Cassandra Pye, President. It has 28 full-time employees including senior experts and practitioners in corporate communications, issues management, and state-based campaigning. LPA helps clients navigate California’s complex legislative and regulatory environment. The firm is known for high-level reputation, issue management and strategic communication campaigns – tapping into the team’s deep familiarity with California’s political, business and media landscape. LPA’s practice areas of expertise reflect the issues that define California’s future including energy and climate, transportation and logistics, K-12 and higher education, water, technology and biotech, housing, health care and aging, insurance, among others.
The Acquisition is in line with the Group’s growth strategy and, alongside the 2022 acquisition of KP Public Affairs, significantly expands its already market leading offering in California. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of PPHC, LPA will retain its distinct brand identity and its long-standing management team and staff. Significant revenue and profit synergy potential exists via the referral of work from the PPHC network, which has over 1,200 clients.
Stewart Hall, CEO of PPHC, commented:
“The acquisition of LPA significantly strengthens our position in a key US state and increases our expertise in critical sectors including technology, green energy, and healthcare. This is an important step towards PPHC’s stated goal of being the world’s largest, most comprehensive provider of government relations and policy communication services for corporations and NGOs.
“There are very few other jurisdictions that matter more to our clients than California, and nowhere else is the future of business being affected as in Sacramento. LPA’s impressive team of communications and public affairs experts are a very strong addition to the growing PPHC family.
“As with our distinctly branded firms in Washington DC and Boston, the addition of LPA, alongside our partners at KP Public Affairs, makes PPHC’s expertise in California second-to-none. Both firms will continue to operate independently.”
Donna Lucas, CEO of LPA, commented:
“We are genuinely excited about what this opportunity means for LPA’s clients and for our team. We had a short list of what we needed to make this move. We wanted stability, a commitment to our roster of current and future firm leaders and we wanted the kind of partner who would allow us to continue to remain independent and true to our culture while continuing to grow. PPHC was founded by people like us who understand our business. They value what we do. We could not ask for a better partner.”
Cassandra Pye, President of LPA, commented:
“This partnership gives LPA access to additional assets and tools to support our clients and their priorities. PPHC has collected an amazing network of practitioners leading public affairs operations in DC, and in California.
“Donna and I are really excited to continue to lead LPA with this exceptional team and with partners who support our commitment to excellence. Our clients are the beneficiaries here. We’re strengthening our bench now and for the future.”
READ: Seven Letter Partner Brendan Buck’s opinion essay in the NYT
On Saturday, the House of Representatives approved the most consequential legislation of this Congress, a foreign aid package for American allies. More Democrats than Republicans voted in favor of the measure that allowed the package to pass. And once again the speaker’s job is at risk.
Dan Tate, Co-Founder of Forbes Tate Partners, to receive the 2024 Bryce Harlow Business-Government Relations Award
Dan Tate, Co-Founder of Forbes Tate Partners, will receive the Bryce Harlow Business-Government Relations Award, which is given annually to a leader in government advocacy in recognition of an exemplary career in the profession. Prior to starting Forbes Tate Partners with Jeff Forbes, Dan spent twelve years in private practice in both large and boutique firms working with clients. He also served in the Clinton Administration for three years as Special Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs – and was a key member of the White House team responsible for developing and implementing the Clinton Administration’s legislative agenda on trade, energy, environment, telecommunications, transportation, and financial services issues.
Read more about Dan Tate and the 2024 Awards celebration on the Bryce Harlow Foundation website.