UK financial services firm Buchanan Communications is joining Burson, expanding the number of brands under the new agency’s umbrella.Buchanan becomes part of Burson immediately. The agency, which WPP acquired in 1997, provides private and public companies services including capital market advisory on transactions including M&A, and crisis and change management.Buchanan also provides a comprehensive sustainability offering, including sustainability reporting and communications, along with creative services, including brand, website design, financial marketing collateral design, and digital content. The Buchanan team serves clients across consumer, leisure and gaming; energy and renewables; financial services; industrials and infrastructure; investment companies; life sciences and healthcare; mining and metals; professional services; and technology, media and telecommunications.  Buchanan will operate as a brand within Burson along with Hill & Knowlton, GCI Health and AxiCom. The integration of Buchanan comes ahead of BCW’s July 1 merger with sister WPP agency Hill & Knowlton into a single entity called Burson. The merger will create a $1bn PR firm that could arguably be the industry's biggest player.“Building reputation to grow brand and business value requires engagement across the full range of stakeholder audiences, including capital markets,” said BCW global CEO Corey duBrowa, who will be Burson’s global CEO Burson when the merger is completed. “Beyond strengthening financial confidence or ‘investability’ in an organization, managing relationships with investor audiences is crucial to optimizing and protecting a company’s valuation and reputation. Bringing the exceptional team at Buchanan to Burson gives us immediate strength in financial communications in key international markets and the firepower to expand this expertise at scale.”Buchanan chairman Richard Oldworth said, "The formation of Burson as the market-leading powerhouse in the global communications industry provides an exceptional opportunity for Buchanan to consolidate its leading position in London and expand its operations internationally. We share a common vision with Burson of building and protecting reputations, delivering significant value and placing our clients first, as capital markets evolve and present exciting global opportunities. Having the expansive global network and complementary skillsets which Burson provides will be of tremendous value to our existing and prospective clients."

BCW and Hill & Knowlton, which will merge as of July 1, 2024, to form Burson, today announced that leading financial communications and capital market advisory firm Buchanan Communications, part of WPP, will become part of Burson, effective immediately.Buchanan Communications specializes in supporting companies that require access to the capital markets to raise financing; optimize valuation; enhance reputation; and create new and lasting supporters among the investor, analyst and media communities. Founded in 1984 and acquired by WPP in 1997, Buchanan provides a fully integrated service for its publicly listed and private clients, which includes strategic counsel on relations with all capital market stakeholders, on all types of transactions (including M&A), as well as crisis and change management and all other corporate situations. Buchanan also provides a comprehensive sustainability offering, including sustainability reporting and communications, along with creative services, including brand, website design, financial marketing collateral design, and digital content.“Building reputation to grow brand and business value requires engagement across the full range of stakeholder audiences, including capital markets,” said Corey duBrowa, Global CEO, BCW, who will hold the same role with Burson upon completion of the merger. “Beyond strengthening financial confidence or ‘investability’ in an organization, managing relationships with investor audiences is crucial to optimizing and protecting a company’s valuation and reputation. Bringing the exceptional team at Buchanan to Burson gives us immediate strength in financial communications in key international markets and the firepower to expand this expertise at scale.”The Buchanan team serves clients across consumer, leisure and gaming; energy and renewables; financial services; industrials and infrastructure; investment companies; life sciences and healthcare; mining and metals; professional services; and technology, media and telecommunications."The formation of Burson as the market-leading powerhouse in the global communications industry provides an exceptional opportunity for Buchanan to consolidate its leading position in London and expand its operations internationally” said Richard Oldworth, Chairman of Buchanan.?“We share a common vision with Burson of building and protecting reputations, delivering significant value and placing our clients first, as capital markets evolve and present exciting global opportunities. Having the expansive global network and complementary skillsets which Burson provides will be of tremendous value to our existing and prospective clients.”Buchanan Communications will be a brand within Burson together with Hill & Knowlton, GCI Health and AxiCom.On January 25th, WPP announced it would merge its two largest communications agencies, BCW and Hill & Knowlton, to form Burson, a powerhouse delivering modern communications leadership at scale to clients across the world. The merged company will become an industry-leading, full-service communications agency focused on building and protecting reputation. Burson will be operational as of July 1, 2024.

Shubhreet Kaur, a seasoned media professional, has embarked on a new journey with Adfactors PR, the nation's leading and one of the most decorated PR agencies.Shubhreet Kaur, a dynamic figure known for her extensive experience in journalism, television anchoring, and integrated communications, has officially joined Adfactors PR as Vice President - Integration. This strategic appointment underscores Adfactors' commitment to enhancing its integrated communications capabilities and further solidifying its position as a powerhouse in the industry.Expressing her excitement, Shubhreet shared: "I'm thrilled to announce my association with Adfactors, a pinnacle in the PR domain. It's a privilege to join the team led by Madan Bahal, an industry stalwart whose vision and leadership are unparalleled. The warm welcome from Team Adfactors has truly made me feel at home, and I am eager to embark on this new journey of collaboration and growth."Bringing over 19 years of rich expertise encompassing news, television, production, PR, creative strategy, and influencer marketing, Shubhreet's multifaceted background positions her as a valuable asset to Adfactors' diverse clientele. Her previous stint at Hill & Knowlton has honed her skills in navigating the intricate landscape of communications, making her a perfect fit for her new role at Adfactors.Beyond her professional endeavors, Shubhreet embodies versatility as a full-time VP, part-time influencer, and dedicated mother to her daughters, Karma and Nirvana. When not immersed in work or digital engagements, she indulges in her passions for content creation, tin box collection, and the art of decluttering.

Burson, the soon-to-be launched $1 billion PR firm formed by the merger of BCW and Hill & Knowlton, has appointed Laura Anderson as Chair of Technology for the Americas. Anderson brings over 25 years of experience in communications, having held leadership positions at companies like Google's DeepMind, Silver Lake, and Intel (where she spent nearly two decades, including two years as VP and GM of global communications).Anderson will officially begin her role on July 1st, coinciding with Burson's launch. In the interim, she will work with BCW starting April 22nd."Laura's extensive experience positions her perfectly to lead our Americas technology practice," said Kristine Boyden, CEO of BCW Americas (and future CEO of Burson). "Her deep understanding of the tech industry, from navigating policy issues to driving innovation, will be invaluable to our clients."Boyden continued, praising Anderson's ability to guide tech brands through challenges and build strong reputations. This expertise, Boyden believes, will benefit both Burson's regional and global technology clients.

Hill & Knowlton and BCW, which will merge as of July 1, 2024, to form Burson, has announced new appointments across global functional roles, global practices and two specialty agencies. Additional leadership appointments will be announced throughout the integration process.“This is an exceptional group of leaders drawn from our two organizations, each of whom has considerable experience in building businesses and brands,” said Corey duBrowa, Global CEO, BCW. “Hill & Knowlton has a well-established and strong global practice structure in place which will be replicated at Burson, under the guidance of these chair appointments, to deliver clients access to the talent and services at the scale they need. I have great confidence in all of our colleagues to build a modern, full-service, technology-driven Burson focused on building and protecting reputation and grounded in the timeless values of our namesake.”Appointments include:Jerry Lombardo, currently Global Chief Financial Officer, BCW, becomes Global Chief Financial Officer, BursonAzurée Montoute-Lewis, currently Global Chief People Officer, Hill & Knowlton, becomes Global Chief People Officer, BursonBrooke Hovey, currently Global President, BCW, becomes Global Chief Strategy Officer, BursonSimon Shaw, currently Global Chief Creative Strategy & Innovation Officer, Hill & Knowlton, becomes Global Chief Creative Officer, BursonMichelle Hutton, currently Global Chief Client and Growth Officer, BCW, becomes Global Chief Client and Growth Officer, BursonRanda Stephan, currently Global Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Hill & Knowlton, becomes Global Chief Brand Officer, BursonBrenna Terry, currently Global Chair of Healthcare, Hill & Knowlton, becomes Global Chair of Healthcare, BursonSara Gourlay, currently Global Chair of Technology, Hill & Knowlton, becomes Global Chair of Technology, BursonSimon Whitehead, currently Global Chair of Energy & Industrials, Hill & Knowlton, becomes Global Chair of Energy & Industrials, Burson (in addition to his role as CEO, UK, Burson)Kristin Cahill continues as CEO, GCI GroupMatthew Lackie continues as CEO, AxiCom“As we bring our companies together, this group of leaders exemplifies a core premise behind the merger – that together we can draw on the industry's leading talent to create considerably more value for our clients and employees,” said AnnaMaria DeSalva, Chairman and CEO, Hill & Knowlton.“These functional, practice and agency leaders will enable the interdisciplinary solutions, global creative capability, and specialty counsel required by the world’s leading client organizations. We are enthusiastic about the progress reflected in this announcement and look forward to sharing more as our integration continues."On January 25th, WPP announced it would merge its two largest communications agencies, BCW and Hill & Knowlton, to form Burson, a powerhouse delivering modern communications leadership at scale to clients across the world. The merged company will become an industry-leading, full-service communications agency focused on building and protecting reputation. Burson will be operational as of July 1, 2024.