Two Suffolk PR firms merge to create full-service marketing agency

Why it matters: The merger brings together two established Suffolk firms with complementary strengths across sectors including hospitality, healthcare, construction and charity work.

The details:

• Staff will initially continue working across both existing offices
• Teams will later relocate to Friel's new headquarters on Ipswich Waterfront
• The combined agency will operate under the Friel brand
• The merger takes effect from January 2025

What they're saying: Clare Yelland, Managing Director of Friel, said: "Uniting with Prominent PR is an incredibly exciting time for our agency. The Prominent team have already settled in well and have come armed with fresh ideas to enhance our PR offering."

Changes at the top: Helen Rudd, who founded Prominent PR over a decade ago, will step away from the business to focus on her role as Director of Strategy and Partnerships at Harwich Haven Authority.

"It has been over a decade since Prominent first launched and in those 11 years we have made our mark on the national industry – scooping numerous awards alongside high-profile client acquisitions," Rudd said.

The bottom line: The merger creates a strengthened full-service marketing agency that combines Prominent PR expertise with Friel's digital marketing capabilities.