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Stagwell launches its Specialty Media business unit. Part of the Stagwell Marketing Cloud, the new unit will focus on building media formats that the company says will offer brands novel ways to reach, engage and monetize key consumer segments across sports, travel, retail, news and dining. It includes ARound, a stadium-level augmented reality platform, already in use by the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Rams, that uses 3D spatial computing to map large-scale venues and localize content to individual users. Other new offerings include a QR code-powered advertising platform for restaurants and bars, and "The Travel Marketplace," which offers access to such channels as airport TV screens, WiFi sponsorship, inflight entertainment and targeted social media. "Stagwell is bringing new experiences to consumers whether they are at the stadium, in a restaurant or getting on an airplane," said Stagwell chairman and CEO Mark Penn.
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Caster Communications joins forces with consultancy bluesalve partners to support companies developing hardware and software for custom and consumer electronics, IoT, XR, AI, enterprise and emerging industries. Caster and bluesalve will offer strategic counsel through execution on projects ranging from product design, development, sourcing and procurement to integrated marketing, PR, social and digital media. The companies will continue as individual entities but provide exclusive cooperative services. Caster founder Kimberly Lancaster, along with agency SVP Alexandra Crabb, will drive marketing, PR and communications consulting, while bluesalve managing partner Avi Rosenthal will run business operations and development consulting, along with bluesalve partners Lew Brown and David Kaplan. “This partnership strengthens both organizations by offering streamlined, single-source services that neither group offers alone,” said Lancaster.
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Powerhouse Communications rebrands as Powerhouse+Co. In addition to the rebrand, the agency, which specializes in brand storytelling, media relations, social media and influencer programs, has introduced a new logo, website and overall agency persona. “The ‘+Co.’ in Powerhouse+Co. represents strength in numbers and our core belief in the value of teamwork, which is a concept we wanted to highlight in our new name since it’s so deeply ingrained in our agency DNA,” said agency CEO Kristin Daher. The new logo, which incorporates a fingerprint, refers to the agency’s ability focus on expressing the individual identities of its clients.
53Six, a Dublin- and London-based sports marketing agency, is acquired by Irish experience and entertainment group FUEL... Blue Highway Advisory releases a report that looks at how the shift from CEO to AI has changed the way in which consumers access information, and offers advice on how to handle the new landscape... Get Engaged, whose services include campaign ideation, social media management, influencer marketing, celebrity partnerships, content production and paid media, joins SAMY, a social-first agency headquartered in Madrid. 
The Hoffman Agency, a Silicon Valley-based firm with offices in Europe, Asia and the U.S., teams up with United Partners Network, a global community of independent communications agencies... ChangeMakers acquires R&G Strategic, a Halifax, Nova Scotia-based firm with a practice that spans ESG and sustainability strategy and reporting; stakeholder engagement; climate and GHG consulting; sustainability campaigns; branding; communications; and marketing... AltaVista Strategic Partners, a Baltimore-based firm, opens an second office in Tampa, effective Oct. 15.
Curley & Pynn Public Relations Management rebrands as Biplane focused specifically on helping nonprofits build visibility, reputation and trust to advance their philanthropy... SKDK launches a payer negotiation practice that is designed to support health systems as they navigate increasingly complex negotiations with insurers... ChangeMakers, a strategy and communications firm with over 400 professionals across North America, launches RepScore.
Prosek Partners opens in San Francisco under the leadership of partner Nadia Damouni... Caliber Corporate Advisers, which works with clients in the fintech and financial services sectors, introduces the Caliber Authority Index (Caliber AI), a proprietary measurement platform... Herbie Thiele Consulting, a public affairs firm blending lobbying and communications, is launched by the longtime Sachs Media partner.
Bospar expands its Audit*E tool for small- and medium-sized businesses, which provides comprehensive visibility scoring, competitive analysis and platform-specific improvement recommendations, giving users actionable intelligence to help with brand positioning.... 5W is increasing its presence in Tampa and the Florida market....PR Consultants Group, a nationwide network of senior-level public relations, strategic communications and marketing specialists in more than 50 U.S. markets, has brought on 13 independently owned public relations firms across 13 markets and 12 states so far in 2026.
