WASHINGTON, D.C., December 4—Chief executive James Fabiani is leaving the Cassidy Companies—a subsidiary of Weber Shandwick Worldwide and parent company of public affairs powerhouse Powell Tate—to launch his own business consulting firm, Fabiani & Company. His departure comes six months shy of his 20-year anniversary at the firm and two years after it was acquired by Weber Shandwick parent the Interpublic Group of Companies.
 
Fabiani told the lobbying publication Influence he had been planning his departure for six months and that it was amicable. “The company has gone through a lot of transition,” says Fabiani. “I put the business in a position where it’s flourishing. I’m very proud of it. I think I’m leaving it in great shape.”
 
Cassidy has suffered several defections in recent months, including the recent departure of Robert Bork, who left its litigation communications firm Bork & Associates to start his own firm, and David Krawitz, former president of Powell Tate, who joined APCO Worldwide as general manager of its Los Angeles office. Other departures include G. Furman Barnes; Douglass Bobbitt; Dennis Kedzior; and Dan Tate Sr. and Dan Tate Jr.; and Vincent Versage.
 
Nevertheless, Cassidy is reportedly heading for another record-breaking year, and is expected to hang on to its number one spot in the Washington rankings with lobbying revenues in excess of $30 million. It overall revenues, including Powell Tate, research unit SWR Worldwide, and lobbying boutique Rhaods Maguire—will top $50 million.
 
Founder and president Gerald Cassidy says the firm will not replace Fabiani, but will use the money saved to hire more lobbyists, including a major healthcare hire.