Edelman Pr Buys Wham

SEATTLE - Edelman Public Relations Worldwide, the New York- and Chicago-based public-relations firm, said today that it has acquired Seattle-based WHaM Communications.

WHaM was founded in 1991 by Patrick McGuire and Melanie Wilhoite. McGuire will become executive vice president and general manager of Edelman Seattle; Wilhoite will become senior vice president and deputy general manager. WHaM's other 16 employees also will work for Eldelman.

Eldelman, the world's sixth-largest public-relations firm, has 1,600 employees in 37 offices.