NEW YORK — Nielsen has launched a new Diverse Media Equity program designed to elevate the visibility of diverse owned media companies with advertisers and agencies. The comprehensive initiative includes measurement of diverse media historically excluded from media measurement, funding certification fees of diverse owned media, as well as the launch of the first ever report on diverse media reach and audience profiles. In collaboration with P&G, Nielsen also seeds a $130K reimbursement program with the National Minority Supplier Development Council, NMSDC, to help cover the certification fees for diverse owned media suppliers who qualify. The fund, which will be administered by the NMSDC, will aim to provide nearly 200 diverse publishers the benefits of Minority Business Enterprise MBE certification, frequently required by large companies to qualify for diverse investment.

NEW YORK — 360PR+ has acquired lifestyle agency CRC, adding apparel beauty, personal care and other expertise to the firm. CRC founder Cindi Riccio (pictured) will serve as executive VP and general manager of the CRC business, which will be based in 360’s New York office. Prior to launching CRC in 2007, Riccio served in corporate communications and marketing roles, as VP of PR at Hanesbrands, director of communications and advertising at L'Oréal for the Matrix brand, and director of communications for Horizon Media.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Charter Growth Capital Fund (CGCF) has made a strategic investment in Lambert Global, the holding company for PR, investor relations and integrated marketing firm Lambert and its growing family of companies. CGCF acquired a minority position in the firm with the leadership team of Lambert including founder and chairman Jeff Lambert retaining the majority share. Lambert said proceeds from the debt and equity investment will be used to fund future growth, including standing up new practice areas, recruiting leaders to its key talent hubs in Michigan, Arizona, New York, and Texas, and accelerating its already active M&A activity.

CHICAGO — Jeff Lambert, chairman of Michigan-based PR and investor relations firm Lambert Global, has been named global chair-elect of PROI Worldwide, the world’s largest partnership of leading independent communications agencies with partners in 55 countries. Lambert will assume the global chair role in June of 2022, upon completion of the term of Ciro Dias dos Reis, president of Imagem Corporativa based in Brazil.