MINNEAPOLIS—PadillaCRT, formed by the 2013 merger of Padilla Speer Beardsley and CRT/tanaka, has rebranded Padilla. The brand refresh includes the launch of a new website and updated brand identity for Padilla, a top 10 independent public relations and communications company.

“The name change is a natural progression for our company since so many of our employees, clients and industry partners already refer to us as Padilla,” says Lynn Casey, CEO. “We took advantage of the change to totally revamp our website, emphasizing the breadth of our expertise as well as our proven ability to help clients build and grow as well as protect their brands.”

Padilla has 240 employee-owners in Minneapolis, Minnesota; New York, New York; Chicago, Illinois; Richmond, Virginia; Washington, D.C., San Francisco, California; and Los Angeles, California. Padilla also has three additional divisions – brand consultancy Joe Smith, food and nutrition communications firm FoodMinds and research firm SMS Research Advisors.

“Removing CRT from our name doesn’t change who we are,” says Mark Raper, Padilla chief counsel officer, who previously led CRT/tanaka. “We continue to maintain our employee-ownership culture, a dedication to shared values and a commitment to community service.”