Category: News

Alpine Group Names Keenan Austin Reed New CEO

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Reed Succeeds Les Spivey Who Takes New Role as Alpine’s President

Washington, D.C. – The Alpine Group, a premier bipartisan, bicameral government affairs firm, announced today that Keenan Austin Reed will be the firm’s new Chief Executive Officer.

Effective January 1, 2025, Reed will succeed Les Spivey, who has served as CEO and Managing Principal for over five years and will transition to a new role as President, focusing on business development and strengthening relationships with existing clients.

The transition aligns with the Alpine Group’s commitment to fostering leadership that reflects the dynamic and diverse nature of the policy landscape. With Reed at the forefront, the firm is poised to continue its legacy of excellence, innovation, and impact in government affairs. Reed brings a wealth of experience and a track record of transformational leadership. As a top congressional and campaign veteran, seasoned lobbyist, and civic leader, she has proven to be a tenacious advocate in service to the Alpine Group’s clients and has made her mark by rapidly expanding its roster since joining the Group in 2021. Her innovative approach and strategic mindset have earned her recognition as one of the most influential voices in Washington by multiple industry groups.

Spivey expressed his confidence in Reed’s leadership, stating:

“Keenan is a dynamic and visionary leader who understands the intricacies of policymaking and the importance of building relationships on both sides of the aisle. I am thrilled to see her take the helm and lead the Alpine Group toward new horizons.”

Stewart Hall, CEO of Alpine’s parent company, PPHC, added:

“Keenan’s appointment as CEO marks a pivotal moment for the Alpine Group and PPHC. She has deep expertise, unerring strategic vision, and an unwavering commitment to client service. I am confident that under her leadership, the Alpine Group will continue to excel and deliver impactful results for its clients.”

Spivey joined the Alpine Group eighteen years ago after having served on staff of the Senate Appropriations Committee for three different Chairmen. Under Spivey’s stewardship, the Alpine Group has developed into one of the largest and most influential lobbying firms in Washington.


“I am deeply honored to take on this new role and build upon the strong foundation that Les has established here at Alpine,” said Reed. “I look forward to leading Alpine into its next chapter, advancing our mission to provide unparalleled service and advocacy for our clients. We will meet these goals while also continuing to foster an inclusive environment that reflects the full diversity of the communities we serve.“

PRWeek: Three agencies on PRWeek UK’s radar this week

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PRWeek spotlights agencies with a story to tell from the past seven days that we think are worth keeping an eye on.

Pagefield

Pagefield feels like an agency to watch these days. Fresh from its acquisition this summer by PPHC, the US government relations and public affairs holding company, the London firm last week announced a trio of senior appointments.

Read the full story from PRWeek.

Retirement of Bill Chess

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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.”

PPHC Acquires Leading London Firm Pagefield to Anchor UK & European Network 

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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) 

PPHC Acquires Lucas Public Affairs

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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.”

Dan Tate, Co-Founder of Forbes Tate Partners, to receive the 2024 Bryce Harlow Business-Government Relations Award

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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.

Forbes Tate Partners Cements Leadership at the Intersection of Financial Services Policy and Issue Advocacy with Addition of Ed Hill

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WASHINGTON – Today, Bloomberg top performing lobbying firm Forbes Tate Partners (FTP) revealed that it is entering the next phase of its financial services policy advocacy with the addition of Ed Hill as a partner in its government relations practice. Hill’s decades of corporate and association experience will elevate the firm’s growing financial services practice and provide FTP clients with a unique ability to evaluate their needs through a financial policy lens and pursue winning issue campaign solutions.

Ed Hill is a respected and influential national authority on financial services issues. Prior to joining FTP, Hill served as Senior Vice President and Head of Government Affairs for the Bank Policy Institute (BPI) leading federal advocacy efforts on the priorities of member companies, including those across capital and liquidity, consumer banking, technology, and national security. With the full array of FTP’s campaign capabilities – including media relations, digital communications, state advocacy, and data-driven insights – at his disposal, he and FTP will be able to offer clients a variety of tailored, multi-faceted ways to shape policy outcomes and navigate the political, regulatory, legislative, and reputational landscape.

Read the full press release from Forbes Tate Partners.

Keenan Austin Reed Appointed to Executive Director of PPHC Board

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Public Policy Holding Company, Inc., the leading government relations and public affairs group of companies providing a comprehensive range of advisory services, is pleased to announce the appointment of Keenan Austin Reed to the Board as an Executive Director with immediate effect.

Ms Austin Reed is a Principal at Alpine Group, a top 20 Washington-based lobbying firm and one of PPHC’s eight operating companies. She joined Alpine Group in 2021 and is responsible for advocacy across a broad range of policy areas, including contributing to initiatives led by the Congressional Black Caucus, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Biden Administration, where she has deployed expertise in campaigns, media, energy, climate, health, technology and telecommunications.

Ms Austin Reed was recently named Lobbyist of the Year (2023) by the Washington Government Relations Group and is Founder and Chair of Black Women Leading, a non-profit group that supports the empowerment of black women in public service, notably the Black Women’s Congressional Alliance. She has served in a number of policy and political roles, including as Chief of Staff to Congressman Donald McEachin (2017-2020), Florida Political Director to Secretary Hillary Clinton (2016), Chief of Staff to the Council of the District of Columbia Councilmember David Grosso (2015-2016) and Deputy Chief of Staff/Senior Advisor to Florida Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (2011-2015).

In addition to her executive responsibilities, Ms Austin Reed holds various directorships and leadership roles including Advisory Council Chair at GlobalWIN, Vice Chair of the Women’s Congressional Policy Institute, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Corporate Advisory Board and Vice Chair of So Others Might Eat’s Corporate Advisory Board.

Simon Lee, Chairman of PPHC, commented:

“Keenan is one of the top lobbyists in Washington and has made a highly positive impact at Alpine Group and PPHC. Her advisory expertise and wider interests, along with strong relationships among clients and political stakeholders, will further strengthen the Board as PPHC continues to expand its offering and broaden its geographical footprint.”

Keenan Austin Reed, Executive Director of PPHC, commented:

“PPHC is already well established in the US and I am looking forward to supporting the Board as we continue to execute the growth strategy and build on the strong foundations already in place.”

Forbes Tate Partners and Seven Letter Named to PRNEWS’ 2024 Agency Elite Top 100

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WASHINGTON — PPHC firms Forbes Tate Partners (FTP) and Seven Letter have both been named to PRNEWS’ Agency Elite Top 100 for 2024. The comprehensive list recognizes the most innovative PR and communications firms in the business. This is the second year in a row that the two PPHC firms have received this honor.

“We are proud to have two of our agencies recognized in this prestigious list which follows our sustained leading performance within the Lobbying Disclosure Act rankings, where PPHC recently retained the number one spot with $17.1m of disclosed LDA revenue for the third quarter of 2023.

“Our operating companies, their commitment and work accomplished for clients is world-class and we look forward to supporting them in the years ahead as demand for services continues to increase.”

-Stewart Hall, CEO of PPHC

See the full 2024 Agency Elite Top 100 list here.