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In May 2023, communications firms Kivvit and Subject Matter announced their merger, creating one of the largest independent agencies in the U.S. On Wednesday, the combined company announced it rebranded as Avoq.  

The new name – pronounced uh-VOKE – “speaks to the new company’s position as a national advocacy and communications firm that creatively shapes narratives, manages brand reputation and engages audiences,” the firm said in a Jan. 10 announcement. 

Based in Washington, D.C., with offices in Asbury Park as well as Chicago and New York, Avoq employs more than 200 experts in advertising, public affairs, strategic communications, media relations, government relations, digital strategy, narrative building, website and app development, research and data analysis, according to a Jan. 10 announcement. 

Along with the new name, Avoq also elevated 14 of its professionals to partner of the new firm: Stacey Alexander, Whit Askew, Joy Burks, Maura Farrell, Cedric Grant, Sarah Hamilton, Kent Holland, Barry LaSala, Sophie McCarthy, Tom Meara, Dianne Mikeska, Kevin Richards, John Siniff and Adam Steinberger. 

For the New Jersey office, Chris Donnelly will continue to serve as general manager, he told NJBIZ.

Steinberger, one of the new partners, will also serve from the Garden State base. Additionally, Megan Cryan has taken on the title of senior vice president, and Vin Ciniello’s title will be vice president. Cryan’s previous role was managing director at Kivvit, and Ciniello was director, according to their respective LinkedIn profiles. Click here to meet Avoq’s complete Garden State team.

“This new leadership group will ensure Avoq delivers the high-level strategy and counsel our clients have relied on for more than 20 years,” Avoq CEO Nicole Cornish said in a statement. “They are all major contributors to our success and will foster and inspire the one-team culture of collaboration and excellence that sets us apart.” 

In addition to Cornish, fellow executives are Chief Operating Officer Molly Scherrman; Chief Financial officer Dave Metzger; and Managing Partners Steve Elmendorf, Paul Frick, Jimmy Ryan, Dan Sallick and Eric Sedler. 

Along with the rebrand, Avoq launched a new website at teamavoq.com. Avoq is a portfolio company of Los Angeles-based private equity firm Coral Tree Partners.