NEW YORK—Kaplow Communications has acquired Mayday, a full-service creative firm that brings digital and technology expertise in house at Kaplow and significantly expands its capabilities in the digital arena. The Mayday acquisition adds technology, video, visual design and user experience design to Kaplow’s existing social media and digital capabilities, media relations, thought leadership and influencer programs. Kaplow and Mayday have partnered on client projects over the past few years.

SAN FRANCISCO & WILMINGTON, N.C.—W2O Group has formed a new executive development offering. Called Connect, the offering is designed to improve leadership capabilities, specifically communications skills, of C-Suite leaders, subject matter experts and key opinion leaders to ensure organizations remain relevant and resonant in a social/digital reality. Mike Huckman, W2O global practice leader, executive communications, will lead the new offering. He recently joined W2O as part of the Pure Communications acquisition and is a former journalist and a long-time communications advisor to CEOs, senior executives and external experts.

NEW YORK—Strategic communications firm ICR has formed ICR Healthcare, a newly-branded specialty practice that provides communications support for clients in the biopharmaceutical, medtech and healthcare services sectors. James Heins, a veteran in biopharma and medical device communications, joins the firm as senior vice president and head of healthcare public relations. Heins previously managed external and internal communications for Boehringer Ingelheim’s US operations and has worked as Cooney Waters and Fleishman-Hillard. In addition, Charles Butler was named senior vice president, having served most recently served as vice president of investor relations at Castlight Health.

MINNEAPOLIS—Spong, the Twin Cities public relations firm that is part of ad agency Carmichael Lynch, has changed its named to Carmichael Lynch Relate. According to president Julie Batliner, “Our new name embodies this philosophy as we continue to build powerful relationships between people and brands.”

BOSTON—Version 2.0 Communications, a public relations and digital communications firm, has strengthened its relationship with The Whiteoaks Consultancy and is now a full member of the Whiteoaks International Network. The partnership provides Version 2.0 clients with greater access to international support and Whiteoaks clients with enhanced resources in North America.

NEW YORK—PR Boutiques International, a worldwide collaborative network of boutique public relations firms, has added two new members to its prestigious group: Lubbers De Jong based in Amsterdam and MSR Communications based in San Francisco. MSR is a full service PR agency specializing in enterprise technology, mobile and internet technology and consumer lifestyle brands. Lubbers De Jong is a PR and Digital Marketing agency that focuses on the technology sector.

VANCOUVER, BC—The Organization of Canadian Women in Public Relations has launched a sister organization, American Women in Public Relations. Women in PR USA aims to become an important source of information for women in the field, a key player in the rapidly changing industry, and a global champion of women business leaders. Together, the organizations form the networking group Women in PR North America.

RALEIGH, NC—Sysomos, A leader in social marketing and analytics, has released new features for Sysomos Gaze, a visual brand intelligence solution that enables marketers to monitor, curate, engage, analyze and amplify consumer generated visual content across social media. The new features will help clients find and curate authentic viral consumer social images and videos from consumers in a single view; automate approval request workflow; and ,monitor and engage with Instagram and Twitter influencers, gaining insights into their unique traits, affinities and activities.