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North Sixth Group acquires KRMA, an AI-enabled digital marketing solutions provider. As part of the acquisition, NSG will merge its marketing services units, including public relations firm N6A and digital content firm Studios with KRMA to form N6 Powered by KRMA, creating a fully integrated offering that combines public relations expertise, technology and cutting-edge digital marketing strategies. KRMA founder & CEO Morgan Harris will come on board as CEO of North Sixth Group, parent company of N6 Powered by KRMA. One of the key highlights is the integration of KRMA’s proprietary AI technology into the suite of services offered to N6 Powered by KRMA clients. “The acquisition of KRMA and formation of N6 Powered by KRMA brings together the rich tradition of our longstanding PR and marketing services business units N6A and Studios with the future of marketing technology and predictive analytics that is being developed by KRMA,” said North Sixth Group chairman Matt Rizzetta.
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WPP and Spotify form a global strategic partnership that will provide WPP clients with early access to Spotify’s ad products, first-party intelligence and ways to reach engaged audiences at scale. Spotify will become the first digital audio platform to be integrated directly into WPP’s products and solutions. WPP will work with Spotify to deliver market-leading thought leadership and scaled training programs for its employees and clients that focus on digital audio creativity and Spotify's ad products. WPP’s teams and clients will also benefit from early access to Spotify’s neuro-insights research focused on audience trends and insights. One of the first outputs of the partnership is a WPP client-specific version of Spotify’s Sonic Science insights study, conducted with WPP agency Mindshare, that details the connection between Spotify, digital audio ads and listeners. “We’ve long partnered with WPP to enable agency planners and buyers to make more informed decisions when planning for digital audio,” said Spotify global head of advertising sales Brian Berner. “With our new global partnership, we’re helping WPP clients modernize their strategy and planning.”
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Luquire joins with qualitative research platform Sympler to provide consumer insights for the agency’s clients. Sympler employs conversational technology in the chat environments of Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook Messenger to reveal information about consumers. The company says that in those environments, people offer more candid insights than they do through traditional research methods. “The dry, linear approach to research yields the same old answers,” said Sympler co-founder Alexander Kane. “Luquire’s attitude and creativity align perfectly with our mission to go beyond surface-level answers, revealing a truer understanding of consumers’ beliefs and motivations.” Luquire’s client roster includes Bojangles, First Citizens Bank, RSM, and Visit North Carolina.
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.
