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Allison+Partners releases its first Social Discovery Survival Guide, a trends report based on data showing that approximately 40 percent of Gen Z shoppers now use social platforms like TikTok and Instagram to discover new brands and products, rather than typing keywords into a traditional search engine. The guide was put together by the agency’s newly formed Social Discovery Squad, a group of subject matter experts spanning social strategy, content marketing, influencer, platform and search expertise. “Social and visual discovery offers a more engaging experience and often bypasses brand channels,” said Cathy Planchard, global partner and president of Allison+Partners’ Marketing Innovation Team. ”If a consumer’s perception of a brand, and its products, can be entirely user-generated, our clients need cross-disciplinary thinking to shape this disruption to their advantage.” The squad’s approach will continue to evolve as consumers across demographic groups increase adoption of visual discovery and each of the major platforms introduce new features.
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Publicis Groupe acquires VIVnetworks, an affiliate marketing agency in Central and Eastern Europe, with a client portfolio of over 900 merchants across 27 countries. VIVnetworks will be integrated with Publicis Groupe’s global performance marketing platform, CJ. It will operate under the leadership of Publicis senior vice president EMEA Tobias Allgeyer, based in Munich. VIVnetworks’ founders, CEO Vladan Hejnic and COO Robert Studený, will join CJ’s executive management for Central and Eastern Europe. The agency will work with Publicis Groupe’s recently acquired entities, Profitero and CitrusAd, as well as its leading identity solution Epsilon. “Under CJ’s unified umbrella, VIVnetworks and CJ will fully combine to help our clients—advertisers, publishers, and agencies—win in commerce with unparalleled regional and global performance marketing expertise,” said CJ chief executive officer Mayuresh Kshetramade.
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Horizon Media launches Horizon Sports & Experiences. The company says that the new firm, which includes the merger of Horizon's Scout Sports and Entertainment division, was created to provide a comprehensive approach for clients engaging in sports and experiential marketing. HS&E will be led by the team of David Levy, founder of Back Nine Ventures and former president of Turner, and Chris Weil, former chair & CEO of Momentum Worldwide, who will serve as co-CEOs and equity partners in HS&E. Michael Neuman, head of Scout, will become EVP of HS&E, reporting to Levy and Weil. The new unit will include a core focus on IP creation and monetization, strategic advisory and consulting, media rights, sponsorship, sales, and experiential strategy and activation. "What we have created here will bring a unique – and complementary - combination of sports, experiential, and media capabilities and expertise under one tent,” said Horizon Media CEO and founder Bill Koenigsberg.
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.
