Chess

Chess and Company, a sports marketing agency focused on chess talent and events, is launched by World Chess, the organizer of the recent Chess Championship Matches in New York. The agency, which will operate from London and Moscow, is led by World Chess head of partnerships Nadia Panteleeva. It will develop and leverage partnerships with professional chess players, streamers and top-circuit chess events and brand integrations. Chess and Company estimates the number of chess players globally at 600 million, “bigger than the number of people who play tennis and golf combined,” according to World Chess CEO Ilya Merenzon. “But until now it has been largely ignored by professional marketers.”

IPREX

IPREX launches IPREX Academy, a nine-month leadership development program for emerging PR and marketing professionals at independent, partner agencies around the world. Commencing this spring 2021, the program exposes participants to top industry practitioners and seasoned agency principals from the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific as they engage in international staff exchanges, a mentoring program and course modules that go beyond marketing and communications to provide holistic business management skills. “IPREX Academy harnesses the expertise of both members and outside experts to build a unique professional development opportunity for agency professionals who have been recognized as emerging leaders,” said IPREX executive director Alexandra Mayhew. For more information, click here.