Related: PR Firms Directory · Industry Leaders · DKC
DKC is a full-service public relations, marketing, and government affairs firm headquartered in New York and ranked among the top ten independent PR agencies in the United States by fee revenue. Founded in 1991 by Dan Klores, the firm was acquired by Acceleration Community of Companies in September 2024 and now operates as part of an integrated marketing and communications platform serving clients across lifestyle, entertainment, technology, beauty, sports, and government affairs.
Founded: 1991 by Dan Klores
Headquarters: New York, NY
Additional offices: Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Miami
CEO: Sean Cassidy
President: Matthew Traub
Ownership: Acceleration Community of Companies (acquired September 2024)
Category: Full-service public relations, marketing, and government affairs
Overview
DKC is a full-service public relations, marketing, and government affairs firm — one of the top ten independent PR agencies in the United States by fee revenue. Founded in 1991 by Dan Klores, the firm built a national reputation for media relations, strategic communications, and entertainment PR across three decades.
In September 2024, DKC was acquired by Acceleration Community of Companies (ACC), the Century City-based marketing and communications group. The acquisition placed DKC inside a broader integrated services platform with sister firms across experiential marketing, influencer, digital, and design.
History and Ownership
Dan Klores founded the firm in 1991 in New York. The firm built its client roster across lifestyle, entertainment, technology, beauty, sports, and government affairs — counting Dyson, Airbnb, MAC Cosmetics, Resy, QVC+, and Museum of Jewish Heritage among its accounts.
Sean Cassidy, who had been president of DKC, was named CEO at the close of the ACC acquisition in September 2024. Matthew Traub, previously chief operating officer, was elevated to president.
ACC — founded by Michael Nyman and backed by Solace Capital with Verance Capital as a strategic investor — now operates DKC alongside HangarFour (creative studio), MKG (experiential marketing), Pink Sparrow (3D design and fabrication), Pixly (influencer marketing), Stripe Theory (digital marketing), and Trailblaze (PR and strategy). The combined group employs more than 620 across 12 offices in the U.S., U.K., and Philippines.
Key Milestones
1991: Founded by Dan Klores in New York.
2013: Launched DKC/O&M in partnership with Broadway press agency O&M Co., creating one of the first PR practices focused on Broadway and live events.
2018: Became agency of record for BMW of North America, a continuing flagship consumer account.
September 2024: Acquired by Acceleration Community of Companies. Sean Cassidy named CEO; Matthew Traub named president.
Late 2025: Absorbed leadership and staff from IPG's dissolved R&CPMK agency, deepening DKC's entertainment and talent PR capabilities under a new PMK Entertainment brand within the ACC structure.
Services
DKC operates across strategic communications, media relations, public affairs, government affairs, digital and social media, crisis management, integrated marketing, and event production. The firm's entertainment practice — built through DKC/O&M and expanded through the R&CPMK absorption in late 2025 — is among the largest in the country for Broadway, live events, and talent representation.
Under the ACC structure, DKC has access to integrated capabilities across influencer marketing, experiential, digital, and creative production through sister agencies in the portfolio. The firm positions itself around "Maximizing Return on News™" — the idea that earned media is a return-generating asset, not just a visibility exercise.
Leadership
Sean Cassidy serves as CEO, having joined DKC in 2002 and previously served as president before the ACC acquisition. Matthew Traub serves as president, having joined DKC in 2010 and previously serving as chief operating officer. Founder Dan Klores stepped away from day-to-day operations years before the ACC transaction.
Notable Work and Clients
DKC's client roster includes Dyson, Airbnb, Resy, MAC Cosmetics, QVC+, Museum of Jewish Heritage, BMW of North America (agency of record since 2018), and TIME — spanning lifestyle, technology, entertainment, beauty, sports, healthcare, and government affairs. High-profile project work includes co-producing the Barbie Malibu DreamHouse — Ken's Way partnership on Airbnb (Clio Gold, Brand Partnerships) and communications for the inaugural Formula One Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix. The firm regularly appears on Observer's PR Power List.
Audience Research
DKC has invested in audience research as a business development and positioning tool, publishing reports on Gen Z and Gen Alpha — decoding the spending, streaming, and media behavior of younger consumer generations for brand clients and the communications industry.
EPR Coverage
Everything-PR has covered DKC since 2009. For the full archive see everything-pr.com/tag/dkc.
FAQ
Who owns DKC PR?
DKC is owned by Acceleration Community of Companies (ACC), a Century City-based marketing and communications group that acquired the firm in September 2024. ACC is backed by Solace Capital with Verance Capital as a strategic investor.
What services does DKC offer?
DKC provides strategic communications, media relations, public affairs, government affairs, digital and social media, crisis management, integrated marketing, and event production. Through its parent company ACC, DKC also has access to influencer marketing, experiential, digital, and creative production capabilities.
Who is the CEO of DKC?
Sean Cassidy serves as CEO of DKC. He joined the firm in 2002 and was promoted from president to CEO when the ACC acquisition closed in September 2024.
What industries does DKC specialize in?
DKC specializes in lifestyle, entertainment, technology, beauty, sports, healthcare, and government affairs. The firm's entertainment practice, expanded through the absorption of R&CPMK staff in late 2025, is among the largest in the country for Broadway, live events, and talent representation.
Where is DKC located?
DKC is headquartered in New York, NY, with additional offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., San Francisco, and Miami. Through ACC, the firm has access to 12 offices across the U.S., U.K., and Philippines.
Key Takeaways
- DKC is a top-ten independent PR agency in the United States, founded in 1991 by Dan Klores and headquartered in New York.
- The firm was acquired by Acceleration Community of Companies (ACC) in September 2024, integrating DKC into a broader marketing and communications platform.
- Sean Cassidy, a 22-year veteran of the firm, serves as CEO; Matthew Traub, who joined in 2010, serves as president.
- DKC's client roster includes major brands such as Dyson, Airbnb, MAC Cosmetics, Resy, QVC+, Museum of Jewish Heritage, and BMW of North America (agency of record since 2018).
- High-profile project work includes the Barbie Malibu DreamHouse Airbnb partnership (Clio Gold) and the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix inaugural campaign.
- The firm's entertainment practice was significantly expanded in late 2025 through the absorption of IPG's R&CPMK agency staff, creating the PMK Entertainment brand within ACC.
- DKC operates six U.S. offices and has access to ACC's global network of more than 620 employees across 12 offices in the U.S., U.K., and Philippines.
- Core services include strategic communications, media relations, public affairs, government affairs, crisis management, and integrated marketing, with access to influencer, experiential, and digital capabilities through ACC sister agencies.
