WASHINGTON DC—Public affairs consultancy Agenda announced has launched Global Communications Alliance, a network of specialist firms spanning 15 countries and four continents. The Alliance will provide member agencies and their clients with easier access to international markets and local expertise from partners on the ground in key markets. Other members include: Affaires Publiques Consultants (France & Belgium); Bluesky Strategy Group (Canada); Ethicore (South Africa); IMG Events & PR (Kenya); Navos (Germany); PLMR (England & Scotland); Wilkinson Group (Australia); Wit Communicatie (the Netherlands); and YoungNetwork Group (Dubai, Portugal, Angola, Mozambique).

NEW YORK—Manifest London has opened Manifest New York as it plans to become “the world’s first global small agency.” Founding clients represented by the new venture include Morph Costumes; sex toy innovator Hot Octopuss; high end men’s grooming brand Closed on Mondays; William Reed’s International Wine Challenge; branding consultancy Studio Output; creative industry event Glug; global wine brand Tussock Jumper Wines; and global messaging app Viber. The team will be led by founder and CEO Alex Myers and Manifest’s head of digital Neil Hallmark while it seeks a US managing director.

AUSTIN, TX—Shift Communications has opened a new office in Austin, Tex., under the leadership of Matt Trocchio, recently promoted to vice president. As a member of the agency for 10 years, Trocchio has served clients across various industries including cybersecurity, event management and marketing technologies. In his new role, he will be responsible for supervising overall client strategy as well as expanding Shift's customer profile in the Austin area.

SAN FRANCISCO—International social media agency We Are Social has opened a new office in San Francisco, led initially by Leila Thabet, the firm's US managing director, who will split time between New York and San Francisco while the agency recruits a local senior leadership team. The agency has relocated Jenn Bader, group account director, from the New York office to San Francisco to manage existing West Coast accounts including Old Navy, a recent win.

MIAMI—international PR network WorldWise PR Affiliates has added Paris-based Pascale Venot as its 13th member. Pascale Venot specializes in luxury and consumer products in the areas of tourism, sport, fashion, beauty, food, media, and design and works with clients including Gucci Parfums, D & G Parfums, Taittinger, Maserati and Mercedes-Benz.

AUSTIN, TX—Los Angeles-based consumer brands specialist Konnect PR has opened a new office in Austin and launched a completely redesigned website. The Austin office will service food and beverage brands, baby and children's products and franchise concepts.