BOSTON — Bill Fleishman, who stepped down as CEO of Cone Communications last August after Omnicom merged the firm with Porter Novelli, has joined independent Boston branding and activation firm KHJ Brand Activation as president.

Fleishman joined Cone in 2000 and became CEO in 2013, but the role was phased out after the merger. His new role at KHJ Brand Activation includes broadening the agency’s consumer brand client portfolio and integrating client strategies across earned, owned, paid and shared channels, with a focus on brand purpose.

KHJ chief executive Judy Habib said: “Bill’s deep experience helping some of the most loved global brands communicate their value and purpose — from the inside out — is a perfect fit for who we are and where we will continue to go as an agency. We are thrilled he will be joining our best-in-class team to create additional value for our clients as we continue our growth.”

Fleishman added: “KHJ’s rich history of creative and award-winning work speaks for itself. The agency leadership truly understands how the power of a trusting and values-driven culture can not only enable the exploration of new creative territory, but also foster a uniquely collaborative environment where staff can get the most out of their agency experience. KHJ knows that people are what make the company so special, and I am glad to be a part of a firm that clearly understands how to treat talent and inspire the best possible work from everyone.”

At Cone, Fleishman led accounts including Jiffy Lube, Timberland, Nestlé Waters, General Mills, Purina, Merry Maids and Jockey. He had previously served as head of marketing and digital activation at New Hampshire start-up iDolls, and was a principal of his own integrated marketing and advertising agency in Honolulu, helping brands including Subway and Baskin-Robbins tailor campaigns for the Hawaii and Pacific regions.