RF|Binder, a leading communications consultancy, announced the formation of RFB|Cheer, a joint venture between the agency and Cheer Partners, a business consultancy that specializes in talent, employee communications, and human resources advisory. As part of the partnership, Cathleen Graham and Darcie Peck, communications industry veterans and founders of Cheer Partners, will join the RF|Binder leadership team.
The partnership will further bolster RF|Binder’s corporate and financial communications practice, expanding capabilities and expertise to include internal communications, connected culture, diversity & inclusion and employee engagement among other employee communications offerings. The new partnership expands RF|Binder’s commitment to providing strategic solutions that help clients better use communications to solve key business challenges.
“Culture has become an increasingly important issue for corporations and institutions particularly as they link their purpose to their overall business strategy. Employee engagement is critical as companies evolve to meet the changing demands of our time,” said Amy Binder, RF|Binder CEO. “With Cathleen and Darcie on board, we will have the expertise to create more holistic, integrated communications strategies that help businesses succeed and grow.”
“Since its recent launch, demand for Cheer Partners’ offerings underscores the urgent priority organizations are placing in their transformation and in leveraging their best people and their culture through our three core areas of Talent, HR Advisory and Employee Communications”, said Graham. “Working with RF|Binder will help us continue to grow and expand our employee communications resources, and build stronger offerings to both new and existing clients.”
RF|Binder has deep experience with building corporate communications programs, centralized on driving strong corporate reputations and industry leadership. Since its founding in 2001, the agency has developed and executed corporate communications strategies for a myriad of Fortune 100 companies in each of it key industry sectors.
Similarly, Cheer Partners has crafted customized solutions for its clients, including Fortune 100 companies. Cheer Partners is working with many brands to create internal communications frameworks, recruitment strategies, and engagement and inclusion programs. By elevating the customer experience using talent, engagement and connected culture, Cheer Partners has grown rapidly to become known as the consultancy driving competitive advantage through the dedicated lens of people focused programs.
Graham has more than 20 years’ experience as an HR and Talent leader across the communications, management consulting and software industries. Her extensive knowledge spans change management, M&A, performance modeling, professional development, talent strategies, culture and employee engagement. She has held C-suite level global roles for the last 10 years and has a track record of helping companies define their talent strategies to meet their corporate goals. She frequently guest lectures at Georgetown and NYU and is an active participant at TED conferences.
Peck has more than 25 years’ experience in senior finance roles. In her most recent position she was CFO of IMS Health Global Services and Consulting Division where she designed and implemented new compensation strategies, capacity modeling and talent acquisition planning which significantly improved the overall growth and profitability of the organization. Darcie also served as VP Financial Planning and Analysis in IMS Health corporate headquarters and VP Finance and Investor Relations, leading the company’s formal investor relations and corporate communications program, and expanded analyst coverage and value investor interest.