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ICR completes an investment from institutional investor Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec to support the agency’s growth and expansion. Global provider and manager of alternative investment products Investcorp, which first invested in ICR in 2018, will also remain an investor in the firm. “ICR has created a remarkable value proposition for companies and their leadership teams thanks to its unique portfolio of services, high‑quality network and the distinctive profile of its client-facing team members,” said CDPQ executive VP and head of private equity and capital solutions Martin Laguerre. Jefferies LLC served as lead financial advisor, while William Blair also served as financial advisor for Investcorp and ICR. Credit Suisse served as financial advisor and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP as legal counsel for CDPQ.
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MARCO, a Madrid-based agency with offices in cities including Barcelona, Lisbon, Paris and Mexico City, acquires a majority stake in Africa Communications Media Group, an African-owned agency with headquarters in Johannesburg. ACG has worked with such clients as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mercedes Benz, Bloomberg and Ethiopian Airlines. ACG founder and CEO Mimi Kalinda will work with MARCO founder and CEO Didier Lagae on company branding, and she will also lead the communications operation to support MARCO clients in the sub-Saharan market. “The acquisition of ACG with their direct presence in three key markets plus an indirect presence in another 40 delivers the expansion we were looking for,” said Lagae. Kalinda added that “being part of the MARCO family translated into real opportunities for our clients to not only build their brands and reputations in Africa but also well beyond the continent’s borders.”
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North 6th Agency’s #Pitching4Purpose initiative, which was launched in 2019, reaches the $50,000 mark in contributions made to non-profit organizations. Each month, N6A firm tallies the total number of client results secured across the agency, which include everything from digital and print articles to broadcast, radio, and podcast segments, and reflects those results in donations to a selected charity. In addition to such national charities as the American Cancer Society, the Michael J. Fox Foundation and Meals on Wheels, N6A staff chose to contribute to such groups as the WIN Foundation, which supports individuals and families in addiction recovery and Operation Backpack, which provides grade-specific school supplies to students living in New York City homeless or domestic violence shelters. “We launched this initiative as a way for the agency to backup its hard work with actions that impact positive changem” said N6A chief executive officer Daniela Mancinelli.
PKPR, a New York-based boutique shop, launches a book publicity division focused on nonfiction authors... Palantir Technologies and Stagwell form a partnership to create an AI-driven platform for marketers... The Conference Board is presenting a Nov. 18-19 event at the Brooklyn Marriott that will look at the priorities, challenges and opportunities facing AI decision-makers today.
Gregory FCA is marking its 35th anniversary with a comprehensive rebrand... Madden Media, a Tucson-based agency, teams with Denver-based Karsh Hagan... Jasper, an AI content automation platform, launches Jasper Grid, an interface that allows marketing teams to create and orchestrate content across a range of channels, audiences and regions.
Sommerfield Communications, a corporate, financial, and crisis shop that was acquired by Allison Worldwide in early 2021, re-launches as an independently owned firm... D S Simon Media launches a broadcast media tour designed to enhance Generative Engine Optimization... The Public Relations Society of America’s ICON 2025 Conference brought together close to 2,100 in DC from Oct. 28-30.
CorpBridge Advisors is launched by Bob Christie (Brunswick and Alibaba Group veteran) and Russ Rubino (Nasdaq and Intercontinental Exchange/NYSE alum)... Golin marked its 30th anniversary in Miami with an Oct. 23 gathering that celebrated its new outpost in Coral Gables... The Notability Company debuted at the PRSA annual ICON Conference in Washington.
Padilla launches Padilla GEO 3D, a service that aims to improve generative AI search results for brands and organizations... Bader Rutter, a Milwaukee-based B2B marketing agency, unveils the Chef Advisory Network, an initiative designed to bring the voice of the kitchen into food company boardrooms... Dilenschneider Group founder and principal Robert Dilenschneider’s new book, Respect: How to Change the World One Interaction at a Time, was released on Oct. 28 by Wiley... Blue Highway Advisory and Blue Highway Global, founded by former Mercury Public Affairs managing director Ian McCaleb in 2022, rebrands.
