NEW YORK—Robert Dowling has launched Hudson Cutler & Company, a technology-driven marketing and communications agency focused on applying ideas to business and social challenges. Dowling brings more than 25-years of experience working with leading brands including Samsung, Nike, Coca-Cola, American Express, Microsoft, L’Oreal, Amazon, and Goldman Sachs.

MINNEAPOLIS—PadillaCRT has acquired Joe Smith, a boutique brand strategy firm in Richmond, Va. Joe Smith co-founders Barry Saunders and Christian Markow will join PadillaCRT's executive leadership team. Prior to forming Joe Smith IN 2013, Saunders and Markow led the Richmond office of Prophet, a global brand and marketing consultancy. The seven-member firm will be the brand consultancy of PadillaCRT, operating under the Joe Smith name and taking advantage of PadillaCRT's full suite of creative and digital capabilities.

NEW YORK—Worldcom Public Relations Group has added new members in the United States, Europe, Africa and Latin America. New partners are Beutler Ink, Washington, DC; Intrepid, Salt Lake City; LatinMedia Comunicaciones, Santiago, Chile; Meropa Communications, South Africa; and Onva Consulting, Epsom, Surrey, United Kingdom.

LOS ANGELES—The Public Relations Global Network has selected The Hoyt Organization, a Los Angeles-area public relations agency, as its newest affiliate. Founded in 1986, The Hoyt Organization is based in Torrance, and provides full-service public relations and crisis communication services to clients including Auction.com, Sotheby’s International Realty, USC Lusk Center for Real Estate, Westwood Financial Corp., Genton Property Group for the Four Seasons Private Residence, Los Angeles.

WASHINGTON, DC—The American Bus Association has formed a new partnership with Kitchen Public Relations, which will offer ABA members a crisis management planning service, complete with detailed, customized response plans in the event of an accident or high-profile incident. 

NEW YORK—D S Simon Productions, founded in 1986, is rebranding as D S Simon Media. The company says its new name is more reflective of the strategic role it plays in creating and distributing video content across paid, earned, shared, and owned platforms.