 |
The IGB Group, an investor relations, capital markets and strategic communications advisory firm, starts up a digital communications practice. The new practice will focus on connecting clients with their audiences through the implementation of digital, social media and design services. It will be led by Matt Berkowitz, who has been promoted to senior director of investor relations and head of digital communications. Berkowitz, who joined the firm in 2013, has extensive experience leading public company investor relations and financial communications programs across a wide range of industries, including industrials, transportation, specialty finance and consumer goods. IGB has also promoted Bryan Degnan to partner and managing director, and established an advisory board, which will work closely with IGB management to identify and take advantage of growth opportunities and to promote IGB’s continued thought leadership.
 |
| Idris Elba |
Silly Face, a London-based marketing and content agency focused on diverse representation, is being launched by actor Idris Elba. Elba is co-founding the firm with Marc Boyan, owner of the British media group Miroma. Miroma will provide support for the new agency. Elba and Boyan had previously considered putting up a bid to acquire the British public broadcast station Channel 4, but the government decided not to sell it in January. Elba said he wants to build the company with people from diverse cultural backgrounds who could bring alternative perspectives and ideas for marketing to their clients. The launch follows a recently announced partnership between Elba and Nigerian film producer Mo Abudu intended to develop the television and movie industries across Africa and bring African stories to a broader audience.
 |
HUGE, Interpublic Group’s creative consultancy, deploys Huge LIVE (Living Intelligence Value Engine), part of a larger strategic plan to accelerate the adoption of AI across the organization. The agency says that Huge LIVE analyzes billions of diverse data points from numerous sources, with the goal of discovering hidden trends and insights in real-time that can help clients identify opportunities and accelerate growth. It will also be the basis of a suite of proprietary creativity applications and products that will be announced and released throughout 2023 and 2024. The first of those, the Creative Capital Index, will be a tool designed to help businesses measure and increase their organizational creativity. The CCI values all of an organization’s assets—both tangible and intangible—that enable creative problem-solving and innovation and tracks how the relative value of those assets rise and fall over time as compared to industry benchmarks.
BGR Analytics rates Texas as the best state for AI investors to place their money, according to its newly launched BGR Best States for AI Investment Index... Pierpont Communications, a PR and integrated digital marketing agency headquartered in Houston, expands into South Florida... The Pollack Group names Project Petals as the recipient of its 2026 Big Red Grant.
LaVoie Strategic Communications Group launches an integrated market platform and redesigned website meant to reflect the agency’s evolving role advising healthcare, life sciences and government organizations... Highwire publishes “Passing the Torch: A Framework for CEO Transition Communication for Professional Services Businesses"... Auris, a communications lab backed by a strategic investment from Helios & Partners, launches.
MikeWorldWide acquires HudsonLake, a strategic communications firm specializing in organizational change, employee experience and workforce communications.
AKCG – Public Relations Counselors, a Philadelphia-area firm that offers crisis planning, crisis management, media training and media relations, acquires Hennes Communications... The Martin Group, an integrated marketing communications firm headquartered in Buffalo, acquires creative, brand strategy and content studio Mr. Smith Agency... ExpertClick, a platform connecting journalists with qualified interview sources, is offering a database of 357 top U.S. media outlets.
Perry Communications Group, a Sacramento‑based public affairs and strategic communications firm, marks its 30th anniversary... Bullish, an institutional-grade digital asset platform, enters into a definitive agreement to acquire Equiniti, the owner of press release service Notified... IPREX releases “Your Agency’s AI Reality Check Toolkit."
