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Leading Australia-based Financial and Corporate Communications Agency, Honner, Joins FINN Partners

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The move expands FINN’s Asia Pacific footprint to Australia and strengthens the Agency’s position as a global leader in Financial Services; Taps into Australia’s deep and fast-growing investment sector.

NEW YORK and SYDNEY, July 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Global independent marketing and communications firm, FINN Partners, has acquired Honner, an award-winning, 25-person-strong Sydney-based agency with leading expertise in financial services and corporate communications. The move establishes FINN’s presence in Australia and expands its capabilities in one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing investment markets. Sydney and Melbourne will join FINN’s global footprint, bringing its worldwide office count to 37 and expanding its Asia Pacific team to approximately 250 professionals.

The agency will be known as “Honner, A FINN Partners Company”. All Honner employees will become FINN employees.

Honner founder, Philippa Honner, joins FINN as Managing Partner and FINN Financial Services Practice Leader for APAC — with a mandate of expanding FINN’s financial services practice throughout the Asia Pacific region, including further building the agency’s strong foothold in the Australia market. She will also become a member of the APAC leadership team and, alongside Honner’s senior leadership team, work closely with regional leaders in Greater China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand.

FINN currently works with a wide range of leading global financial brands including Charles Schwab, Chubb, Deutsche Bank and Natixis.

Financial Sector Growth in APAC

The acquisition reflects Australia’s growing strategic importance in powering Asia’s evolving financial services ecosystem, spanning both traditional capital markets and the next generation of digital financial infrastructure.

Australia’s superannuation (pensions) pool has reached AU $4.5 trillion* making it one of the largest retirement savings markets in the world and one of the fastest growing pools of institutional capital globally. The market is set to grow to AU $8.3 trillion (US $5.4 trillion) in the early 2030s**, likely making it the second largest pension system in the world after the US. Many of Honner’s clients are local financial brands expanding into APAC, or global brands wanting a consolidated regional approach to marketing and communications.

As part of the FINN APAC region, Honner will be overseen by Howard Solomon, FINN founding managing partner and APAC lead, who also leads the firm’s efforts on the West Coast of the US.

Howard Solomon noted FINN already had an established presence in Australia through its market leading travel and arts practices, working with current and past clients such as the Art Gallery of New South Wales on its major expansion project, known as Sydney Modern; the Australia Pavilion at the Venice Biennale; Destination New South Wales which FINN represents in the US and UK markets; Intrepid Travel; and the Naomi Milgrom Foundation.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Honner to the FINN family,” stated Solomon. “Australia is a key growth market in the region and one we have been looking at very carefully for years. This move further deepens our financial services expertise in APAC and gives us critical mass to support the growing demand from both local and global financial brands in the region. We are very pleased to welcome the Honner team and look forward to growing our collective presence.”

A Shared Vision to Strengthen Client Positioning Across a Changing Financial Services Landscape

Honner was founded in 1997 by Philippa Honner, an economics graduate with a passion for media. The agency has an impressive client base of blue chip local and global organizations across sectors including banking and capital markets, asset management, wealth management and financial advice, superannuation, insurance, professional services, real estate, renewables, digital assets, technology and industry organizations.

Peter Finn, FINN CEO and founding partner, said the acquisition builds on FINN’s continued momentum globally and across Asia Pacific. Recently ranked among the world’s top 20 global independent PR firms by PRWeek, as well as earning recognition as one of PRovoke Media’s Best Agencies in the U.S., Europe and UK, FINN has expanded rapidly through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions.

“From the beginning, my vision for FINN Partners has been to create a world-class agency with unmatched depth of sector expertise and integrated services to benefit clients wherever they are in the world,” Peter Finn said. “This acquisition builds on the momentum we’ve established across APAC, including last year’s acquisition of RICE Communications. FINN’s APAC business has grown significantly, accounting for nearly 10% of the firm’s global fees. With Honner joining the firm, FINN APAC now has approximately USD$19 million in fees, further strengthening our ability to serve clients seamlessly across the US, EMEA and APAC.”

Honner Founder Philippa Honner said joining FINN was an exciting next step for the Honner team and the agency’s clients.

“Joining forces with FINN gives us an incredible platform to progress our ambitions to be the leading marketing and communications agency supporting corporate and financial brands across APAC,” Philippa Honner said. “We look forward to working closely with our FINN colleagues across the region and spending time with our clients to demonstrate the impact of tailored communications strategies across complex APAC markets.”

Ryan Barr, FINN Global Financial Services Practice Lead, said the firm continues to see strong opportunities across traditional banking and asset management, alongside rapid growth in fintech, private markets, and the digitization of financial infrastructure across APAC.

“Honner is a natural fit for FINN. Their leading position in Australia, together with our established presence across Singapore, Hong Kong, Greater China and the broader region, strengthens our ability to support clients wherever they need us most,” Barr added, “I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Philippa, and she is the kind of trusted, senior counsel that defines our approach globally. She adds further depth to the integrated marketing and communications services we provide to clients around the world.”

ABOUT HONNER
Established in Sydney in 1997, Honner is a specialist PR, marketing and communications consultancy focused on the corporate, financial services and new economy sectors. Today, the firm supports more than 50 clients across the Asia-Pacific region, including leading asset managers, superfunds, consultants, banks and digital asset platforms. Collectively, Honner’s clients manage over AUD $10 trillion in investment capital across public and private markets. Honner is a member of two global agency networks – PROI Worldwide and Global Communication Partners (GCP). More information: www.honner.com.au

ABOUT FINN PARTNERS
Founded in 2011 on the core principles of innovation and collaborative partnership, FINN Partners has grown from about US $24 million in fees to almost US $200 million in fees during the past 15 years, becoming one of the fastest-growing independent public relations agencies in the world. Recognized as one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, PRovoke Media’s 100 Best Agencies in the U.S., 60 Best Agencies in Europe, and Midsize Agency of the Year in 2022, the full-service marketing and communications company’s record-setting pace results from organic growth and integrating new companies and new people into the FINN world through a common philosophy. With more than 1,300 professionals across 37 offices, FINN provides clients with global access and capabilities in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. In addition, FINN provides its clients with access to top-tier agencies worldwide through its membership in the global network PROI.

Headquartered in New York, FINN has offices in: Abu Dhabi, Atlanta, Bangalore, Bangkok, Beijing, Boston, Chicago, Delhi, Denver, Detroit, Dublin, Fort Lauderdale, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Jerusalem, Kuala Lumpur, London, Los Angeles, Madison, Wisc., Manila, Melbourne, Mumbai, Munich, Nashville, Orange County, Paris, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Singapore, Sydney, Vancouver, Washington D.C. and Yangon. Find us at finnpartners.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram at @finnpartners.

Notes:
* Source: The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) at December 2025
** Australia’s Super Members Council

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SOURCE Finn Partners, Inc.

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Zelus Automation Platform and Woodforest National Bank Sign Agreement for SNAP Platform

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Partnership brings Zelus’s SNAP automation platform to one of the nation’s largest community banks.

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, July 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Zelus Automation Platform and Woodforest National Bank® today announced an agreement for Zelus’s SNAP platform. The partnership will deliver next-generation automation capabilities across Woodforest’s retail banking operations, supporting the bank’s nearly 740 branches in 17 states nationwide.

“At Woodforest, it’s always been about customers first, community always, and this venture with Zelus brings that commitment to life in new and powerful ways,” said Julie Mayrant, President and Chief Community Bank Officer Woodforest National Bank. “Our upcoming move to Jack Henry’s SilverLake System™ sets the stage for exactly this kind of decision. Zelus’ SNAP solution integrates seamlessly with SilverLake, so we’re able to automate processes without adding complexity to our tech stack. It was a natural fit — one that lets us build on our core investment rather than work around it.”

The agreement reflects both organizations’ commitment to a long-term partnership built on shared goals of operational excellence and customer service. SNAP will be deployed across Woodforest’s retail banking network, which spans Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

“We are honored to partner with Woodforest National Bank, one of the nation’s most respected community banking institutions,” said Russell Bond, Chief Executive Officer of Zelus Automation Platform. “This agreement is a testament to the power of SNAP and our shared vision of transforming the way community banks operate and serve their customers.”

The implementation of SNAP across Woodforest’s operations is expected to begin in the coming months.

About Woodforest National Bank

Woodforest National Bank has successfully stood among the strongest community banks in the nation, proudly offering outstanding customer service since 1980. Headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas, Woodforest operates nearly 740 branches in 17 states and employs approximately 4,300 associates. As an employee-owned institution, Woodforest understands the importance of investing in its people and the communities it serves. Woodforest is an Outstanding CRA-rated institution. For more information, visit www.woodforest.com.

About Zelus Automation Platform

Zelus Automation Platform is a leading provider of intelligent automation solutions for the financial services industry. The company’s flagship SNAP platform enables banks and financial institutions to streamline operations, reduce costs, and improve the customer experience through advanced automation technology. For more information, visit www.zap-llc.com.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zelus-automation-platform-and-woodforest-national-bank-sign-agreement-for-snap-platform-302825450.html

SOURCE Woodforest National Bank

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High Rye Seeding Rates Prove Effective for Weed Suppression

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A new Weed Science Society of America research article shows a generously seeded cereal rye cover crop helps reduce weed pressure for organic no-till soybean production

WESTMINSTER, Colo., July 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) journal, Weed Science, recently published a research article showing that a cereal rye cover crop helps reduce weed pressure for organic no-till soybean production, particularly when seeded at higher rates. The two-year research study reviewed field experiments conducted during the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 growing seasons near Rock Springs, Pennsylvania, at the Pennsylvania State University Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center.

“The aim of this study was to compare the magnitude of weed control and soybean yield under different cereal rye densities within the soybean phase of cover-crop based organic rotational no-till production,” states Laurel Wellman, a Ph.D. student in plant sciences at Pennsylvania State University, and the study’s corresponding author. “Our results indicated that all cereal rye seeding rates reduced weed biomass compared to the unseeded cereal rye control plots, and that the higher cereal rye seeding rates reduced weed biomass significantly more than the lower seeding rates.” 

In two experiments, the researchers evaluated rye cultural management strategies for rye biomass, weed suppression, and soybean yield. They tested: 

four rye seeding rates (0.5-3 bu. acre) and two sowing arrangements (grid vs. row sowing)fall-applied poultry litter (0, 1.5, 3 tons acre) with two soybean planting dates (planting green or standard planting). 

“Increasing cereal rye seeding rate did not lead to increased rye biomass but did increase weed suppression,” points out Wellman. “Soybean yield was unaffected by rye seeding rates, and sowing arrangement did not affect any response.” 

Interestingly, “while fall poultry litter significantly increased rye biomass, weed suppression was unaffected,” she adds.

During one of the two cropping seasons studied, planting green reduced soybean establishment and yield, note the researchers. However, they also state that “these results highlight the limitations of organic no-till soybean production within grain crop rotations in the Northeastern U.S. when using cereal rye as a stand-alone weed suppression method. Increasing cereal rye seeding rates or applying fall fertility could be effective cultural practices when integrated with other weed control tactics to supplement weed suppression by rye surface mulch.” 

Overall, and perhaps most importantly, notes Wellman, the study “indicates that higher cereal rye seeding rates improved weed suppression independently of cereal rye biomass.” 

More information about the study is available online in the article: “Cultural management of cereal rye for weed suppression in cover crop-based organic rotational no-till soybean.” The research article is among others recently featured in Weed Science, a Weed Science Society of America journal, published by Cambridge University Press. Wellman can be contacted about the study at lew5444@psu.edu.

About Weed Science 
Weed Science is a journal of the Weed Science Society of America, a nonprofit scientific society focused on weeds and their impact on the environment. The publication presents peer-reviewed, original research related to all aspects of weed science, including biology, ecology, physiology, management, and control of weeds. To learn more, visit www.wssa.net

Media Contact: 
Jo Skelton 
Cambridge University Press 
Senior Brand and Partner Communications Manager 
cupacademic@cambridge.org 
01223326165 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/high-rye-seeding-rates-prove-effective-for-weed-suppression-302825303.html

SOURCE Weed Science Society of America

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ICW Holdings Provides Update on Its Flagship Strategic Equities Investment Strategy

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BROOKLYN, N.Y., July 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ICW Holdings, LLC (“ICW”), an investment management firm, today announced the formation and launch of its flagship fund, a private investment vehicle pursuing a global, long-biased equity strategy by combining bottom-up company research with macroeconomic regime analysis and portfolio risk management.

Managed by Mark Dinner, formerly with Bridgewater Associates, the strategy is designed to create a diversified, risk-balanced portfolio of high-quality businesses. With a focus on managing concentration risk and navigating a wide range of inflationary, deflationary, and policy-drive environments, the strategy’s multi-layered investment process integrates macro risk analysis, systematic portfolio construction, and selective tail-risk mitigation.

“ICW was founded on the belief that companies are the most fundamental drivers of long-term value creation and our investment approach combines rigorous bottom-up equity selection with a deep understanding of macroeconomic regimes,” said Dinner. “We believe the current environment continues to reward an active, differentiated investment approach that can adapt across cycles. The strategy is designed with that flexibility at its core and formalizes an investment approach we have been actively executing since our founding in 2021.”

ICW’s leadership team combines macro investing expertise, systematic portfolio construction experience, and institutional operational oversight. Collectively, the team brings over 100 years of cumulative experience across leading investment organizations.

About ICW Holdings, LLC

ICW is an investment management firm founded in 2020 by Mark Dinner, a former senior investor at Bridgewater Associates, to apply a disciplined understanding of macroeconomic regimes and portfolio balance to equity investing. The firm serves eligible investors seeking risk-aware equity exposure across market cycles. All statements regarding personnel background, firm history, and strategy should be reviewed for accuracy and substantiation before dissemination.

Important Notice: This press release is for general informational purposes only. It is not, and should not be construed as, an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities or other investment interests, and it is not intended to condition the market for any securities offering. ICW is not using this announcement to market any securities. Any private offering, if made, would be conducted only through confidential offering materials and only in accordance with applicable law.

Media Contact

Matthew Della Croce
Clario Group
1-646-319-7487
matthew.dellacroce@clariogroup.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/icw-holdings-provides-update-on-its-flagship-strategic-equities-investment-strategy-302825455.html

SOURCE ICW Holdings

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