Subject Matter+Kivvit Becomes Avōq, Names New Partners

New brand combines strategic communications, advocacy and creative into one data- and insights-powered firm

Washington, DC — January 10, 2024 — Subject Matter+Kivvit announced today it has rebranded as Avoq and elevated 14 longtime practitioners to partner in the new company. The new name and reorganization follow the May 2023 merger of Subject Matter and Kivvit, which combined the two companies into a single integrated firm that helps companies, organizations and industries elevate ideas, build brands and tackle reputational or policy challenges.

Avoq (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 company has more than 200 employees in five cities with expertise in advertising, public affairs, strategic communications, media relations, government relations, digital strategy, narrative building, website and app development, research and data analysis.

Avoq also announced the elevation of 14 professionals to partner in the new firm, bringing team members with expertise across all its service areas into the leadership ranks to guide the next stage of Avoq’s evolution as a client- and growth-focused company.

The new partners are 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.

“This new leadership group will ensure Avoq delivers the high-level strategy and counsel our clients have relied on for more than 20 years,” said Nicole Cornish, Avoq’s CEO. “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 continuing as CEO, other Avoq officers include Molly Scherrman as COO, Dave Metzger as CFO, and Steve Elmendorf, Paul Frick, Jimmy Ryan, Dan Sallick and Eric Sedler as managing partners.

Learn more about Avoq, its team and capabilities at teamavoq.com.

About Avoq: Avoq’s 200+ employees work from offices in Washington D.C., Chicago, New York, New Jersey and Miami. Avoq is a portfolio company of Coral Tree Partners, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm focused on investments in the media, entertainment and communications sectors.