EVINS Communications Ltd., a preeminent brand strategy, marketing communications and public relations agency based in New York, and Sheila Donnelly & Associates (SDA), a renowned travel and lifestyle public relations, media relations and communications firm based in Honolulu, have forged a strategic partnership. EVINS and SDA are aligning in order to provide clients with an unparalleled and accretive breadth, depth and scope of capabilities, experience, expertise and strategic advisory services. The announcement was jointly made by Mathew L. Evins, Chairman of EVINS, Louise R. Evins, President & CEO of EVINS, and Sheila Donnelly Theroux, Founder and President of SDA.
EVINS and SDA have been formalizing and structuring their partnership since 2016 and, in the interim, have collaborated on several client programs in order to determine the most beneficial, consequential and effective means by which to synergistically, accretively and profitably provide integrated and seamless services to each firm’s clients as well as to clients which engage EVINS and SDA jointly. Both firms were founded in 1987; are celebrating their 31st year in business; and maintain long-term client relationships, some of which span more than two decades.
EVINS is the leading brand marketing communications and public relations firm specializing in the premium, prestige and luxury sectors. The Agency, which encompasses 30 professionals in four practice areas—Digital Content & Integration; Food, Spirits & Wine; Lifestyle; and Travel & Hospitality—has made a consequential contribution to the growth and development of numerous icon and legacy brands and businesses. EVINS is well known for providing consummate business and strategic counsel, as well as for developing creative and innovative strategies and tactics in order to create compelling brand experiences that catalyze brand resonance and engagement. EVINS’ proficiency to transform brand and business potential into brand and business performance, and its established track record of contributing to a client’s growth and success, is the basis for the longevity of its client partnerships, with an average tenure of more than eight years and several in excess of two decades.
SDA’s reputation has been built on its success in launching, expanding and repositioning some of the world’s most respected luxury brands in travel, hospitality, real estate, lifestyle and fashion. SDA’s leadership has extensive experience in launching more than 100 luxury businesses in North America, Asia, Europe and Latin America, from the world’s most famous hotels to exclusive spas, restaurants, luxury goods and couture. SDA brings a unique blend of energy, creativity and experience to clients, from trend-spotting and media engagement to creating demand via strategic insight. Together, the firms also offer clients advice on corporate and executive reputation management; issues and crisis management; cause-related marketing; and affinity programs.
“It is a defining honor and an extraordinary privilege to partner with Sheila Donnelly Theroux, who I have admired and revered since I came into the industry more than 30 years ago. Our firms share a common business philosophy: we are brand and business strategists who utilize media and influencer engagement, partnerships and creative programming, engaging content and thought leadership, to make a consequential, profound and transcendent contribution to the development, growth and success of a client’s business. In addition, EVINS and SDA are committed to building enduring client partnerships and to providing clients with a demonstrable and exponential return on their investment with our firms,” said Mr. Evins. “In joining forces, our goal is to provide clients with accretive and unparalleled experience and expertise, as well as a breadth, depth and scope of integrated services that redefine and transform the traditional agency/client relationship into a partnership based upon acumen and insight, accountability and performance, integrity and transparency, for the benefit of current and future clients.”
Ms. Donnelly Theroux noted that the partners’ skills are particularly attractive to international luxury businesses seeking to expand their presence and visibility among affluent audiences in North America. “Our greatest asset is our combined team of passionate, industry-savvy professionals who bring an impressive array of specialties to our clients,” Ms. Donnelly Theroux said. “From Travel & Hospitality, Lifestyle and Food, Wine & Spirits, to an expertise in Digital Content, Engagement & Integration, we bring immense value to companies as an integral part of their communications, branding and strategic initiatives. Both agencies share a pride in our commitment and responsiveness to the needs of our clients.”
Mr. Evins, Ms. Evins and Ms. Donnelly Theroux serve on a range of philanthropic, professional and industry boards. Mr. Evins serves on a number of boards, including the International Luxury Hotel Association, Luxury Travel Exchange International, ULTRA Luxury Exchange, the International Hotel Investment Forum and The Global Virus Network which he co-founded with Robert C. Gallo, MD, the eminent and world-renowned scientist who co-discovered HIV as the cause of AIDS; Ms. Evins serves on the boards of Fashion Group International, LIM College, The Dramatist Guild Foundation, and is a member of the Forbes Executive Women’s Board; and Ms. Donnelly Theroux is a board member of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, a national resource for discovering the consequence and complexity of the Asian Pacific American experience, and the Hawaii State Art Museum.
