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| Binna Kim |
Vested acquires Red Lab Technologies, a web design, development and digital marketing firm that partners with healthcare and finance companies looking to bolster their marketing teams. Red Lab will provide Vested clients with expertise in Wordpress design and development, search engine optimization and marketing, paid social advertising and marketing automation. Both firms will continue to operate under their current names, and there are no staffing changes planned. The acquisition is intended to augment Vested’s digital capabilities as well as adding talent to their team. “What excites me about Red Lab is not just their deep digital expertise and skill sets. It’s their entrepreneurial mindset and creative spirit,” said Vested president Binna Kim.
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| Michael Olguin |
Havas Formula establishes a Midwest regional hub in Chicago. Initially, Havas Formula Midwest will encompass two offices, located in Chicago and Denver (the agency’s last US hub, established in April 2021). It will primarily focus on consumer, CPG, lifestyle, B-to-B and tech brands. The Chicago hub will be led by Tara Reid, who has been promoted from senior vice president to president. “The Midwest is rich with opportunities, especially with so many large food companies, retailers and tech startups from the Great Lakes area—and even as far south as Texas,” said Havas Formula CEO Michael Olguin. “Establishing a Midwest regional hub in this market will fuel the agency’s growth strategy as we seek to expand into other flourishing markets in this area, like Austin, Minneapolis and Columbus.”
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| Gail Heimann |
Weber Shandwick introduces The Weber Shandwick Collective, a strategic communications and consulting network. In addition to Weber Shandwick, the agencies that will be a part of The Weber Shandwick Collective include Prime Weber Shandwick, United Minds, Powell Tate, Revive, Resolute Digital, Flipside, ThatLot, KRC Research and Cappuccino. The firm is also launching Weber Shandwick Futures, which will work to identify potential investments, partnerships or M&A opportunities that help shape future-forward offers to clients. It will be led by chairman Chris Perry, who calls the unit “one part think tank, one part incubator and two parts business engine.” Its first partnership is with venture capital firm Social Starts. “We’re scaling our consulting expertise, introducing a new model for innovation and evolving the articulation of our brand to more accurately reflect the value and scale that our ecosystem delivers today – and to establish a foundation for future growth and disruption,” said Weber Shandwick CEO Gail Heimann.
TEAM LEWIS starts up its AI Practice... Thunderly launches a year-long storytelling campaign focused on how franchising can provide a pathway to business ownership... JIN, a European communications consulting group, introduces "AI Campaigning", a corporate offering designed to model and anticipate stakeholder behavior.
Karsh Hagan and Madden Media join forces as KHM... Endeavor Communications opens an office in the Harbor Point neighborhood of Stamford, CT... Big Red Oak, a Toronto-based communications firm, and D.C. area-based PA firm New Hill Consulting have launched a joint service exclusively for companies in the nuclear energy sector... The Pollack Group has partnered with Brandi AI, a platform for enterprise brand intelligence, AI visibility and Generative Engine Optimization.
Real Chemistry acquires Spurwing Communications, which advises pharmaceutical and healthcare organizations—as well as clients across a broader range of industries—throughout APAC... 5W AI Communications (5WPR) is moving its headquarters from New York to Florida (Miami, Tampa)... Valence Communications, which will focus on biopharmaceutical companies, launches under Matt Middleman, who was founder and CEO at LifeSci Communications.
Moburst, which specializes in digital marketing and AI-powered solutions, acquires Amazon marketing agency Hyperzon... The Public Relations Global Network launches its Health Practice Group, which brings together more than 20 independent agencies across four continents to support health care, life sciences and pharma organizations... ICR’s newly released Q2 2026 SPAC Market Update & Outlook shows a healthy environment for IPOs... Red Banyan, a senior-level crisis management, litigation PR, and reputation management firm, makes its first appearance in the Chambers and Partners listings.
Deerfield Group, a marketing, communications and media firm focused on the healthcare and life sciences sectors, receives a strategic majority investment from Martis Capital, a private equity firm... Bospar and market research firm Propeller Insights release the results of a study that shows public understanding of AI and the role it plays in brand discoverability is lagging behind the progress of the technology itself... Highwire launches AcroIntelligence, a proprietary Large Media Model designed to help companies identify emerging narratives, understand competitive shifts, and make faster, more informed decisions.
