DENVER — Shawna Seldon McGregor has launched a new communications consultancy, Maverick Public Relations, a Denver-based communications consultancy that specializes in biotech, health & wellness, agribusiness, sustainable technologies, renewable energy, associations, media and cannabis industries. Before establishing her own consultancy, McGregor (pictured) spend nearly two decades at The Rosen Group, where she served as senior VP. After joining the New York City-based firm in 1999, she established TRG’s Denver office in 2012 and became known as one of the first public relations professionals working in the legal cannabis industry.

NEW YORK — Solebury Trout has launched a new environmental, social and governance practice area to help clients build or improve, as well as promote, an ESG strategy that creates long-term value and drives investor engagement. Managing director Amanda Cimaglia (pictured) will lead the new offering, titled Solebury Trout ESG 360.  Cimaglia is joining Solebury Trout from Hannon Armstrong.

WASHINGTON – Blue Engine Message & Media + JDA Frontline is formally becoming Seven Letter. The firm’s new brand marks the culmination of a merger process that began in fall 2018 when Blue Engine Message & Media joined forces with JDA Frontline to form a new bipartisan firm. The Seven Letter name and its associated brand are meant to reflect the core strengths of the firm and its roots in language, focus on content and expertise in creative message development on behalf of its clients.

NEW YORK — PR agency profitability was 16.3% of net revenues, according to PR professionals responding to the annual benchmarking survey conducted by Gould+Partners. The survey of 41 firms found those with under $3m in revenue netted 14.9%. $3m to $10m firms netted 12.3%, while $10m to 25m firms netted 18.8%. Shops in excess of $25m netted 15.7%, indicative of flat organic growth of the larger firms, the survey found.

TORONTO — A new firm, Hall+Co., has been created following the dissolution of its predecessor, Ireland+Hall. While keeping on much of its client roster, the new agency has plans for international expansion in 2019. Lowell Hall, previously the co-founder of Ireland+Hall, will be taking the reins of Hall+Co. as founder and agency creative lead. James Tessier, who has been with the company for over three years, will be staying on and assisting in all aspects of the restructuring while taking on the new role of VP, accounts.

NEW YORK — The Worldcom Public Relations Group continued building out its global partnership by adding Airfoil Group in Detroit, IN.FOM in Singapore, MAARC in Paris and Tell-Em in Nairobi. These firms add to the impressive group of new partners recently added this year, which includes KGBTexas (San Antonio and Houston), Raffetto Herman Strategic Communications (Seattle) and Tabua Digital (Portugal).