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IPG Mediabrands is holding what it calls an “Equity Upfront” the week of March 15. Led by Mediabrands entity MAGNA, a global media investment and intelligence company, the weeklong event is intended to raise visibility and receptivity of Black-owned and targeted media businesses. It will highlight entities across all media (i.e., linear, video/streaming, digital, radio and print). Among the confirmed partners are Allen Media Group/Entertainment Studios, BET Network, Essence Communications and Urban One. Confirmed Mediabrands clients participating include American Express, BMW, CVS Health/Aetna and Johnson & Johnson. “The Equity Upfront is an opportunity to enact real change by increasing investment in often underrepresented media businesses that reflect the significant influence of Black consumers and trendsetters in the economy,” said Mediabrands global CEO Daryl Lee.
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Acceleration Partners acquires the agency business of R.O.EYE, a Manchester-based performance marketing agency. The remainder of the R.O.EYE business was acquired by global affiliate network Awin. Since many of the R.O.EYE clients who will now be managed by Acceleration Partners also operate affiliate programs on Awin, the transaction further strengthens the relationship between the network and agency, who already work together in the UK and US. "It was vitally important to me that we found the right agency to acquire this part of the business. I know the team at Acceleration Partners well, and they will continue the great service we have delivered over the years," said R.O.EYE founder Mark Kuhillow. The R.O.EYE acquisition is Acceleration Partners’ second since partnering with Mountaingate Capital. In January, the agency announced the acquisition of Streamline Marketing.
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5W Public Relations launches an online gambling public relations division. The agency says that the new division will allow a focused and strategic approach to online gambling, casinos, lotto and sports betting clients. PR services offered to online gambling and lottery clients include messaging and positioning, media relations, visibility programs, content creation, partnerships and celebrity relations, digital media campaigns, event planning, thought leadership and speaking opportunities. "With regulations varying nationally, advancements in technologies that enhance the gaming experience and the surge in people connecting virtually, online gambling has become a hot and rapidly evolving business," said 5WPR CEO and founder Ronn Torossian.
MMGY and Las Vegas-based R&R partners are joining forces under parent company MMGY Global... HarrisQuest, the brand and reputation intelligence platform from The Harris Poll, launches HarrisQuest MCP (Model Context Protocol), which lets users easily connect an AI assistant to external data and tools... Curious Orange, a Dublin-based firm that offers strategy, creative design, digital performance marketing, and AI-enabled workflows, launches Curious Orange Live, a dedicated live experiential marketing agency. 
The Messina Group is rebranding as Fortius Global and opening an office in London. Jim Messina, who launched the firm in 2013 after serving as campaign manager for Obama for America, will serve as CEO of Fortius Global and continue to set the vision, strategy, and execution for Fortius and its companies... The New York Chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute names the new members of its NextGen Committee for the 2026-2027 term... Billion Dollar Boy, a social and influencer marketing agency with offices in New York and London, acquires Santa Monica, CA-headquartered Creator Authority.
Slowey McManus Communications is receiving a majority stake investment from Adi Sarosa, founder and managing partner of AA24 Communications... Seven Letter, a Washington, D.C.-based bipartisan strategic communications and public affairs firm, marks its 20th anniversary... Jack Morton launches a new global brand identity.
Peregrine, which specializes in asset and wealth management, adds a Los Angeles office to its locations in New York and London... The Dilenschneider Group, which was founded by Hill & Knowlton CEO Robert Dilenschneider, marks 35 years in business... Meltwater launches Intelligence is Always in Style, a marketing campaign based on a short-film series starring actress Kim Cattrall.
53Six, a Dublin- and London-based sports marketing agency, is acquired by Irish experience and entertainment group FUEL... Blue Highway Advisory releases a report that looks at how the shift from CEO to AI has changed the way in which consumers access information, and offers advice on how to handle the new landscape... Get Engaged, whose services include campaign ideation, social media management, influencer marketing, celebrity partnerships, content production and paid media, joins SAMY, a social-first agency headquartered in Madrid. 
