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The Next Practices Group, a network of founder-driven firms that includes The Bliss Group, The Next Practice and NextTech Communications, introduces a "Shared Services" team. The team will be led by chief operating officer Michael Gehb. It consists of leaders in finance, human resources and information technology and will also provide expertise that includes tax, real estate, legal and business operations. "A great shared services team unlocks value for our founders and, ultimately, for our clients," said The Next Practices Group chair Bob Pearson. "In the months ahead, you will see our teams build robust practice offerings in key areas, such as healthcare, and in societally important areas, such as Purpose."
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TGI Sport, a sports technology, media and marketing company that works with such organizations as FIFA, Mediapro, Major League Soccer and US Soccer, acquires virtual media solutions provider Interregional Sports Group. ISG founders Simon Burgess and Tony Ragan will now lead "ISG powered by TGI Sport" under TGI Sport global CEO Martin Jolly and will also work closely with TGI's board. ISG's offerings include rights sales, content creation and distribution of virtual media through live sporting events. Bruin Capital and Quadrant Private Equity jointly own TGI Sport, and the deal is the first since Bruin backed the company in 2021. Jolly said the acquisition is "emblematic of how we plan to grow TGI going forward. Instantly, our business enters a new sector—one that many believe is the future of live sports media and advertising."
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Sēd Communications, a female-run marketing agency founded by DevriesGlobal and Porter Novelli vet Loretta Markevics, launches The Greenhouse, an in-house incubator that invents brands and products to directly support the startup community. The Greenhouse plans to launch one new brand per year, with profits to be invested back into marketing those brands. Sēd's agency team supplies all marketing support for the Greenhouse brands. As the owners of the brands they launch, the agency will use Greenhouse brands as a testing ground to experiment with marketing tactics, technologies, and approaches. "When every dollar counts for startups and digital marketing tactics and algorithms change every other week, it is more valuable than ever to know something works before recommending our clients invest in a new or unproven marketing approach," says Markevics.
Mark Allen & Co. acquires Alban Communications, establishing its first Miami office... Buchalter, a business law firm, launches a crisis management and strategic response group... 5W PR expands its beauty practice to include TikTok Shop-aligned PR campaigns and creator amplification strategies.
Caster Communications is acquired by long-time agency leaders Alexandra Crabb and Peter Girard... DiGennaro Communications launches The Authority Studio, a freestanding content strategy and production offering... The Brandman Agency, which specializes in luxury travel and lifestyle, rebrands as Brandman.
Public Inc., a social impact agency based in Toronto and New York, acquires Rocket Social Impact, an advisory firm that works with nonprofit and corporate social impact organizations... Ruder Finn launches “What’s Next: The Ruder Finn Podcast,” a new platform hosted by CEO Kathy Bloomgarden... Crowe PR joins United Partners Network, a network of independent PR agencies with members across more than 65 markets worldwide.
Ruder Finn launches rf.Voices, an integrated influence offering that brings together AI-powered influencer marketing, customer advocacy and paid amplification under one measurable framework... The Pollack Group is accepting applications through March 31 for The Big Red Grant, a $40,000 pro bono strategic PR and marketing engagement program awarded to a nonprofit organization ready for growth... D S Simon Media releases a report that says almost seven in ten producers (68 percent) are more interested in airing a story when they know it has been optimized for AI.
Precision Strategies, an integrated strategy and marketing agency with offices in Washington and New York, acquires Firehouse Strategies, a DC-based public affairs firm... AVENIR GLOBAL acquires London-based Thinks Insight & Strategy... Good Company, which bills itself as a “cultural engineering firm,” is launched by DJ Hardy, a veteran of Johannesburg-based communications consultancy arxna and M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment and Casey Stickles, who has worked at 5WPR, Rubenstein and MWW.
