After a decade of growth as an integrated firm and new account wins, Confidant separates its PR practice into an earned-first agency built for today’s fragmented media landscape
NEW YORK — January 27, 2026 — After ten years as an integrated creative and communications agency, Confidant today announced the launch of Catamaran, a stand-alone strategic communications agency evolving from its PR practice. All 20 members of Confidant’s PR team will move under the Catamaran brand, while Confidant’s creative team will continue forward as a focused, independent creative agency. The two firms will operate independently, while continuing to collaborate closely, sharing select back-of-house resources, and remaining members of the Nostos Network of independent agencies.
The move reflects a clear point of view: as the media landscape fragments, brands don’t need more layers or full service menus from their agencies, they need more specialized partners who are sharp, accountable, and close to the work.
“From the beginning, clients have hired Confidant based on each practice’s distinct superpowers rather than integration,” said Ken Byers, co-founder, principal and CEO of Confidant. “After a decade of growth, our teams are ready to stand on their own and focus our respective brands on the things that our clients love us for.”
“Integration and collaboration across specialties is baked into everything we do, but it doesn’t have to live inside one agency,” said Garland Harwood, co-founder of Confidant and principal and CEO of Catamaran. “More often than not, it’s happening in collaboration with in-house teams and in partnership with other agencies. The magic happens when specialized partners are clear about their role and work well together. Catamaran is built to do exactly that on the earned side.”
An Earned-First Agency, Built for How Influence Works Today
Catamaran embeds small teams of experienced, versatile comms pros alongside in-house teams, reducing handoffs and increasing context, speed, and accountability. Its work focuses on:
- Daily Navigation: Versatile comms pros steering always-on consumer and corporate storytelling through a fractured, fast-moving media landscape.
- Earned-First Ideas & Moments: Campaigns, creative concepts, partnerships, stunts, and events built to earn attention, credibility, and brand love.
- Insights & Trend Signals: Stories surfaced from data, research, consumer behavior, and cultural patterns to position brands as early indicators of what matters now, and predictors of what’s coming next.
Catamaran blends editorial instinct, earned creativity, and AI-enabled workflows to help teams move faster without sacrificing quality or discernment. With no entry level employees, every Catamaran team is staffed by comms pros with at least five years of agency experience working on large brands, bringing high strategic rigor and sound judgment to the work from day one.
Catamaran’s key sector specialties include technology & online services, e-commerce & retail, food & beverage, and travel & experiences. In 2025, 80% of Catamaran’s revenue came from clients that have been retained for at least five years. The firm’s client roster includes Amazon, Shake Shack, Chobani, La Colombe, Aura, BARK, Hipcamp, and others. Catamaran kicked off this year with work starting on four new account wins, including Patreon, Nature’s Garden, Edible Arrangements, and a large specialty retail chain.
A New Chapter for The Zeitgeist
Catamaran has also rebranded the Confidant Zeitgeist, its weekly briefing on emerging media, cultural signals, and narrative shifts shaping modern communications, as The Zeitgeist by Catamaran. Beginning in February, The Zeitgeist will include exclusive bi-monthly features from Contributing Columnist Ann-Marie Alcántara, who previously covered internet culture, trends, technology, advertising and e-commerce at The Wall Street Journal and Adweek. Building on the success of The Zeitgeist, Catamaran now produces tailored internal newsletters for multiple clients.
Two Focused Agencies, Built for the Next Decade
Founded in 2015, Confidant launched with an integrated vision for creative and strategic communications. A decade later, Catamaran emerges with the same team, clients, and values—now organized around focus, clarity, and collaboration.
Confidant co-founder Garland Harwood will lead Catamaran as CEO, alongside a recently expanded leadership team—each with six or more years at the firm—including Jeanne Montone (SVP, Consumer), Kait Fund (SVP, Corporate Reputation & Innovation), Renée McDonald (SVP, Brand Comms), Lydia Voles (SVP, Chief of Staff), and Alan Keane (SVP, Media).
Confidant co-founder Ken Byers will lead Confidant as CEO, working alongside longtime Creative Director Richard Kluver to serve time-pressed brand teams looking for creative velocity at their most pivotal moments.
About Catamaran
Catamaran is an agile strategic comms agency built to help brands earn attention, trust and brand love in today’s fragmented, always-on media environment. By embedding small teams of versatile, experienced, AI-savvy communicators alongside in-house partners—and collaborating closely with creative partners—Catamaran delivers earned-first programs aligned to culture, business goals, and real-world outcomes. Formerly the PR practice at Confidant, Catamaran launched as a stand-alone agency in January 2026. Learn more at catamarancomms.com.
About Confidant
Confidant is a creative velocity partner built for modern brand leaders who need an outside catalyst to spark frequent, effective creative breakthroughs. The team brings deep experience helping brands evolve—whether through brand refreshes, high-impact launch campaigns, or socially driven creative designed to sustain momentum between major moments. Known for its ability to unify creative direction and execution, Confidant works with global brands to deliver work that launches with clarity and impact when the stakes are high. Learn more at confidant.co.
