Top D.C. consulting firm Hamilton Place rebrands as Penta

Hamilton Place Strategies, one of D.C.'s top public-affairs consulting firms, at 5 a.m. Wednesday became Penta, "the world's first comprehensive stakeholder solutions firm."

Driving the news: Penta, which wraps in several other firms, will be led by president Matt McDonald, a partner at Hamilton Place for over a decade.

Senior partners are Tony Fratto, Alberto Lopez-Valenzuela, and Mike Berland + Kevin Madden, returning to the firm after three years as executive vice president at Arnold Ventures.

• Beth Comstock, former GE vice chair, will be a board adviser.
• Penta has 200+ professionals in D.C., New York, London and San Francisco.