Houlihan Lokey Advises MikeWorldWide

Houlihan Lokey is pleased to announce that MikeWorldWide (MWW), the nation’s leading independent public relations firm, has acquired HudsonLake, a strategic communications firm specializing in organizational change, employee experience, and workforce communications.

The acquisition brings workforce strategy into MWW’s core offerings, delivering a unified approach to managing reputation from the inside out. HudsonLake, which marks its 25th anniversary this year, brings deep proficiency in organizational transformation and employee communications, advising leading organizations, including Toyota, 7-Eleven, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. Moving forward, the firm will continue to operate as HudsonLake, a MWW company.

Approaching its 40th anniversary, MWW brings a long history of advising organizations in high-stakes moments spanning crisis management, labor relations, corporate communications, and public affairs. Building on this expertise, MWW will also expand its presence with the relaunch and growth of its Washington, D.C., office.

“The future of reputation is continuous, connected, and built from the inside out,” said Michael Kempner, CEO and Founder of MWW. “Organizations are judged in real time by how they operate, not just how they communicate. Workforce communications has been a critical seat at the table. With the addition of HudsonLake, we’ve built a model designed for where reputation is going, not where it’s been.”

“By joining MikeWorldWide, HudsonLake will not just keep pace, it will have the next-gen tools, resources, scale, and complementary capabilities to outpace the expectations of its client partners and continue to be a ‘best place to work’ for its people,” said Cynthia Hudson, HudsonLake’s Founder. “There is no better partner to propel HudsonLake into its next chapter.”

The acquisition builds on MWW’s position as the leading independent communications firm, reflecting its continuous strategy to enhance a fully integrated communications platform. The firm’s recent acquisition of Berk Communications expanded its sports and lifestyle capabilities; HudsonLake adds workforce as a core pillar, together establishing a model built for modern reputation management.

Houlihan Lokey served as the buyside advisor to MWW.

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