Hollywood PR Hookup: PMK/HBH, BNC Merging

Powerful PR firms will come together by Jan. 1

PMK/HBH and BNC, two of Hollywood’s most powerful PR brands, are merging to create what will likely become the largest entertainment and lifestyle public relations firm in the country, an insider at one of the companies confirmed to TheWrap on Monday.

The merger will take place on Jan. 1, and no decisions have been made about possible layoffs, a new name for the company, or any other details, the person said. The news was first reported by Nikki Finke’s blog deadline.com.

The more corporate- and marketing-focused BNC will join the more celebrity- and entertainment industry-heavy PMK, though each has crossover clients. Both firms are owned by the same parent company, advertising and marketing giant InterPublic, which owns several PR shops in Hollywood, including Rogers & Cowan.

PMK’s A-list clients include Matt Damon, Johnny Depp, Al Pacino, and Jodie Foster; its corporate clients include AOLMotorola, and Reebok. BNC’s celebrity roster boasts Cameron Diaz, Kate Hudson, Whoopi Goldberg and Eva Mendes; its corporate clients include Audi, T-Mobile and Target.

BNC also recently landed the TV Academy — and its Emmy Awards — as a client.

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