Qorvis Communications has signed on to represent SCM Consulting, which is a unit of the largest financial and industrial group in Ukraine.

Rinat Akhmetov, Ukraine’s richest man and a former member of parliament, founded System Capital Management and serves as its president.

SCM employs more than 200K people.

Its assets include the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, which until its surrender on May 20 symbolized Ukraine’s fierce resistance to Russian forces.

The New York Times has reported that Akhmetov has pledged to rebuild Ukraine as he distances himself from his pro-Russian past. He had been a supporter of the Kremlin backed former Ukrainian president Victor Yanukovych..

Qorvis is promoting SCM’s and Akhmetov’s humanitarian efforts in Ukraine and their opposition to the Russian invasion.

Its agreement calls for engaging in “earned media efforts, including but no limited to pitching to media, client-identified spokespeople, press releases, photos and video providing by client.”

Qorvis also will assist with securing media interviews and proactive media engagement on events and projects driven by SCM Consulting.”

The firm’s contract began May 1 and runs through December 31. Monthly fee is $60K.

Executive VP Matt Lauer heads Qorvis’ five-member SCM team.

Publicis Groupe owns Qorvis.