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Penta, a stakeholder solutions firm with intelligence and strategy capabilities, launches. The new firm combines Ballast Research, Hamilton Place Strategies, Flag Media Analytics, alva and Gotham Research Group, along with newly acquired Decode_M. Penta, which comprises over 200 professionals in New York, London, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, is backed by a majority investment by Falfurrias Capital Partners. It will be led by president Matt McDonald, previously a partner at Hamilton Place Strategies. The integration of the firms into Penta will be complete by the end of year, following the conclusion of Ballast Research’s current research cycle. “Penta’s integrated approach will help leaders understand what the reputational risks they face mean for their business, and how to engage with stakeholders to reach desired outcomes,” said board chair Alexander Jutkowitz.
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WE Communications acquires social impact and behavior change agency Hopscotch Consulting. Moving forward, Hopscotch Consulting will be known as “Hopscotch, a WE Communications Company.” It will maintain its own client portfolio and continue to partner with WE on new business and joint client opportunities across corporate, consumer brand, healthcare and technology sectors. The current leadership of co-founders Sam Mercer and Julie Noble and managing director Marcus Hernon will report to WE managing director, UK, Ruth Allchurch. “Joining WE will enable Hopscotch to expand the reach of our social impact and brand purpose services globally, working with global education, tech, consumer and health brands,” said Mercer.
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Ketner Group, which specializes in retail technology PR and communications, releases its Retail Tech PR Handbook, an eBook that outlines best practices in the field. The agency says the eBook is intended to serve as a marketing and educational tool, and is focused on helping retail technology companies understand how to better engage with retail editors, analysts and influencers. It takes readers through the steps involved in putting together a campaign, from making sure that the right questions are asked before getting started to going through the steps involved in identifying objective, defining a strategy and creating a PR plan. It also gives pointers on building effective relationships; getting the most out of trade shows, speaking opportunities and awards; and finding the best way to evaluate the success of a program.
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.
PSC (Princeton Strategic Communications) acquires Nonprofit Partners... CG Life launches 24/364, a cultural brand platform intended to drive awareness, connection and action aimed at keeping rare disease at the forefront of the health and social conversation... Interluxe Group, which focuses on brand experiences and in-person activations; Quinn, a strategic communications agency; and media and digital agency North & Warren are uniting under the Interluxe Group banner.
KITH, which provides corporate reputation and crisis preparation services, is now owned by CEO Stephanie Craig, who has been with the firm since 2021... The Marketing Cloud, a part of Stagwell, introduces several expansions to Agent Cloud, the platform it launched in October 2025 to simplify access to its AI tools and marketing assistants.... Notified launches its AI Press Release Optimizer.
V2 Communications launches its AI Visibility Solution and Earned Media at Scale, two service offerings designed to help companies increase visibility and credibility in generative search... The Public Relations Global Network brings on Greenough Communications as its Boston member agency... DBC is relaunching The DBC Industry Calendar as a free site to help communicators more easily discover relevant events and awards in the cluttered event landscape driven by the growth of webinars and online events. 
