Global independent marketing and communications firm FINN Partners has acquired RICE Communications (RICE), a 60-strong, Singapore-based, strategic communications and public relations consultancy, with expertise in travel, technology, corporate and consumer public relations across the Asia-Pacific region. Bolstering FINN?ÇÖs sizable existing presence in Singapore, the addition of RICE will amount to nearly 100 total employees in that market, making FINN one of the largest PR firms in Singapore, and establishing its Singapore office as one of the five largest offices among its 34 offices around the world. The move also adds new FINN offices in Thailand and Myanmar, in addition to building on the firm?ÇÖs presence in Hong Kong and reinitiating the firm?ÇÖs presence in the Philippines, ensuring FINN can offer support to clients across all key Southeast Asian markets. The firm will be known as ?Ç£RICE, A FINN Partners Company.?Ç¥ James Brasher, RICE Managing Partner, joins FINN as managing partner and lead for the agency?ÇÖs combined Singapore office.RICE becomes part of the FINN APAC region, overseen by Howard Solomon, founding managing partner, who also leads FINN efforts on the West Coast of the US. In his new role, Brasher will grow the firm?ÇÖs reputation as a communications and public relations powerhouse in Asia Pacific. He will also become a member of the APAC leadership team, working closely with regional leaders in Greater China, India, and Malaysia. As part of this transition, Naeema Ismail takes on a new regional role in Strategic Business Development & Crisis Communications, Asia Pacific. She will focus on expanding new business opportunities across key sectors. In addition, she will drive crisis communications advisory across the region. Naeema will also lead the development of structured crisis training services, alongside media and presentation coaching, to further enhance FINN?ÇÖs client offerings and regional expertise.There are no staff redundancies.Founded in 2009 by Sonya Madeira, RICE has earned a strong reputation as a true pan-regional voice of authority on strategic communications, with deep roots across APAC. RICE has been recognized for its all-round excellence, winning numerous Agency/Consultancy of the Year awards in its market as well as multiple awards for being a Best Place to Work by the communication industry?ÇÖs highest bodies, including the ICCO, IPRS, PRovoke Media, PRCA and PRWeek Asia. The firm?ÇÖs diverse portfolio of current clients include: Audi, B&O, Exabeam, FICO, Klook, UiPath and WWF.?Ç£From the beginning, my vision for FINN Partners has been to create a world-class agency with unmatched depth of sector expertise and integrated services to benefit clients wherever they are in the world,?Ç¥ said Peter Finn, FINN CEO and founding partner. ?Ç£We have made great progress transforming from a leading US agency to a true global player. We established London as our European headquarters, expanding our expertise in consumer, tech, health, travel and financial services to the EMEA market. Recognizing the increasing importance of Asia as one of the fastest-growing economic zones globally, we expanded into the region several years later with Singapore as our Asia headquarters, offering deep expertise in B2B and tech, followed by the addition of integrated travel and lifestyle agency CatchOn, with offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. We also bolstered our global health expertise and integrated marketing capabilities with the addition of SPAG in India. The acquisition of RICE builds on our collaborative approach to growth. Given our expansive footprint, unrivaled depth and breadth of sector expertise, and flexible ONE FINN model, FINN is best positioned to be the go-to agency for clients in need of integrated marketing and communications services.?Ç¥Joining FINN Partners enables RICE to deepen its capabilities and sector expertise to help clients navigate today?ÇÖs complex business environment and fuel growth. Said James Brasher, ?Ç£Our vision is underpinned by our commitment towards stewardship ?Çô to take care of the team, clients, and the community so we can look after the future. As part of FINN Partners, our momentum will be greatly accelerated, especially since the businesses and, importantly, values and culture are so closely aligned. This partnership enables our team and clients to tap on FINN?ÇÖs capabilities, expertise, resources and network ?Çô just as we complement theirs with our deep roots, diversity of perspectives and capabilities across Asia Pacific.?Ç¥FINN?ÇÖs APAC region has grown significantly, accounting for approximately 7.5% of the firm?ÇÖs global revenues. With the addition of RICE, FINN APAC will grow to a staff of nearly 250 people and USD $15 million in revenues.Howard Solomon, founding managing partner and APAC Lead, said: ?Ç£After spending time with James and his team, we knew that they were a perfect fit for FINN Partners. They are passionate about the work they do for their clients, their expertise complements and strengthens our vertical expertise, and they believe in the value of collaboration as a key to their success.?Ç¥

In response to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, prominent PR and media leaders have joined forces to issue a strong call for civility. The statement, organised by the Partnership for New York City, emphasizes the urgent need to reject violence and uphold respect for differences in all areas of life.Leading the charge from the public relations sector are Steven Rubenstein of Rubenstein Communications, Kathy Bloomgarden of Ruder Finn, Matthew Hiltzik of Hiltzik Strategies, Peter Finn of FINN Partners, and Jonathan Silvan of Global Strategy Group. These industry leaders have signed the Partnership?ÇÖs statement, which reads: ?Ç£We call upon our fellow Americans to reject violence in 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.?Ç¥Joining them from the media industry are influential figures such as News Corp CEO Robert Thomson, Cond?? Nast CEO Roger Lynch, U.S. News & World Report CEO Eric Gertler, Vox Media CEO Pamela Wasserstein, and Hearst President and CEO Steven Swartz. Their endorsement underscores the media's commitment to promoting peace and respect in public discourse.The Partnership for New York City highlighted the attack as a wake-up call, urging all Americans to commit to non-violence and mutual respect. This unified stance by both PR and media leaders aims to foster a more civil and respectful societal environment, encouraging dialogue over discord.

Global independent marketing and communications firm FINN Partners has acquired Claudine Colin Communication, a 25-person Paris-based PR agency focused on the arts and culture. The firm will be known as Claudine Colin Communication, A FINN Partners Company, and work alongside the sector-leading arts practice of FINN, headed by Philippa Polskin.Claudine Colin Communication, founded in 1990, is the leading arts PR firm in France and has been a long-term partner of Polskin Arts. CCC represents prestigious arts organizations in France, Europe, and abroad, including Mus??e national Picasso-Paris, mus??e du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac, Pinault Collection, Palais de Tokyo, The Rencontres d'Arles, LUMA Arles, Lafayette Anticipations, Fondation Cartier, Centre Pompidou-Metz, Mus??e du Louvre-Lens, Mucem, Mus??e Marmottan Monet, Ateliers Jean Nouvel, Beaux-Arts de Paris, Fondation Pernod Ricard, Mus??e Yves Saint Laurent Paris, Cultural Olympiad for Paris 2024, 17th Lyon Biennale of Contemporary Art, Art Basel across all shows (Paris, Basel, Miami, Hong Kong), and Fondation Beyeler. "We already have one of the largest and most esteemed arts practices in the PR agency world, and we are excited to expand and deepen this work by having Claudine and her team join us. We are also very pleased to enhance our presence in Paris. We currently have 15 people in that office, who work with sustainability, technology, consumer and health clients. Now we have added the premier practice in the French arts sector, and together we have 40 people in Paris. We look forward to working together as one team," said Peter Finn, CEO and Founder of FINN Partners.Claudine Colin said: "I founded Claudine Colin Communication over 30 years ago and developed the business both in France and internationally with a professional and committed team to support managers in the artistic and cultural sphere, both public and private, in designing and implementing the communication and influence strategy for their projects."I am delighted to announce that my team and I are joining FINN Partners, with whom we share the values of high standards, rigor and independence. We have worked closely with Polskin Arts, A FINN Partners company, for many years in the field of art and culture. It is a natural next step for us to join forces and further extend the scope of the select international projects on which we already collaborate.""Together we will offer our clients expertise in the fields of art and culture in Europe, the United States and Asia. With my trusted team, especially Anne-Sophie Decronumbourg and Anne Mon??ger-Laval, deputy directors, we will continue to develop our business alongside our clients, with whom we have long-standing partnerships based on our reputation for delivering excellent service that achieves real influence, recognition and public success."Philippa Polskin, who helped bring the firms together, said: "Claudine Colin Communication is recognized everywhere as the unchallenged leader in arts PR in France, as well as a major force in cultural communications throughout Europe. We welcome CCC warmly and are eager to continue our long history of collaboration with Claudine and her team, working side by side with them at FINN Partners at what is truly the forefront of cultural communications."   Polskin Arts, recognized as one of the world's largest and most prominent cultural PR practices, has a distinguished and extensive client base in the US and around the world, and for decades has worked on international projects in close collaboration with the sector-leading partner CCC in Paris, and the extensive FINN Partners network around the globe. The FINN Partners acquisition of Claudine Colin Communication coincides with the recent and ongoing strategic expansion of Polskin Arts, which has added key senior executives and extended its deep connections to all areas, for-profit and not-for-profit, of the rapidly evolving field of arts and culture.Claudine Colin Communication will be part of FINN Partners EMEA, led by Chantal Bowman-Boyles. With the addition of CCC, FINN Partners EMEA will have total fees of about $27 million and total staff of about 270 people. CCC will work closely with Polskin Arts to expand the FINN Partners practice in the arts and culture sector."France is the global center of art and culture, and we are proud and excited to have Claudine's team, with their unique knowledge and expertise, join us. Our office in Paris has a great reputation for delivering high-quality client service and for long-lasting client relationships ?Çô both attributes we share with CCC. I have enjoyed getting to know Claudine and her team over the last few months, and I am confident that together we will achieve even greater successes in France and across the region," added Chantal Bowman-Boyles.

Global marketing and communications giant FINN Partners has announced the launch of FINN Luxe, a specialized offering catering to the unique needs of the global luxury sector.This cross-sector initiative leverages FINN Partners' existing expertise in premium and luxury brands, spanning industries like travel, wellness, food & beverage, fashion, beauty, and more.FINN Luxe goes beyond traditional marketing by incorporating FINN Partners' established art division and its purpose & social impact practice. This holistic approach allows FINN Luxe to:Craft culturally relevant communication strategies that resonate with today's luxury consumers who increasingly value purpose-driven brands.Navigate the complexities of the luxury market, which faces challenges like diversification and the growing importance of social and environmental responsibility.The newly launched practice has already secured its first major client, Habacoa, a superyacht marina development. This adds to FINN Partners' already impressive luxury portfolio, which includes names like Mandarin Oriental, The Dorchester Collection, Berry Bros. & Rudd, and Bloomingdales.The luxury playbook 2024: Charting the courseTo mark the launch of FINN Luxe, the agency has released "The Luxury Playbook 2024." This comprehensive report, developed in collaboration with FINN's global intelligence teams and market research firm Mintel, provides valuable insights into the current state and future trends of the luxury industry.FINN Partners CEO & Founding Partner, Peter Finn, said: "Our teams around the world have had the privilege to support premium and luxury brands for many years now. As FINN Partners grows, it is important for us to show that we value and nurture the deep knowledge and experience needed to guide our clients across luxury lifestyle sectors.""From branding to PR to thought leadership and digital marketing, the mission of FINN Luxe is to combine the best of both worlds: the network of a global firm and the niche knowledge of a boutique agency. Our point of view on luxury is clear. Whether we communicate on heritage, design, craftsmanship, service, experience, innovation or values, we do it with authenticity and cultural relevance," said Gregory Cole, Senior Partner for Luxury EMEA.

Finn Partners, a global integrated marketing and communications agency, has announced significant leadership changes in the Asia Pacific region. These moves aim to solidify their presence and drive further growth.Previously a senior partner, Annouchka Behrmann has been instrumental in securing new clients for Finn's Hong Kong office since joining in 2023. Now, as the new Managing Partner, she'll lead the agency's Hong Kong operations. Her focus will be twofold:Strengthening Finn's position in key sectors like travel & tourism, hospitality, design, wellness, and luxury.Expanding service offerings, particularly in corporate communications and purpose-driven campaigns.Behrmann reports to Howard Solomon, the founding partner overseeing Asia for Finn Partners.Cathy Feliciano-Chon, previously a Managing Director, will now focus on propelling business development, brand strategy, and thought leadership initiatives across the entire Asia Pacific region. Since joining Finn in 2019, she's played a key role in establishing Finn as a leading global travel & tourism agency and managing a portfolio of prestigious brands.Feliciano-Chon reports to both Solomon and Peter Finn, the agency's CEO and founding managing partner."Cathy's expanded role strengthens our regional leadership and positions us for long-term, sustainable growth across APAC," said Solomon, highlighting her extensive experience, proven leadership, and vast network as invaluable assets.Peter Finn acknowledges the crucial role strong leadership plays in their phenomenal growth across Asia. He emphasizes the unparalleled market knowledge and exceptional client service offered by Cathy, Annouchka, and their fellow Asia Pacific leaders.Finn concludes by highlighting Finn Partners' advantages:Extensive regional presenceDeep expertise across various sectors"One Finn" model ?Çô providing integrated, full-service solutions with agility and collaborationThese strengths, according to Finn, position them perfectly as the go-to agency for clients seeking top-tier marketing communications solutions.