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Morrow Sodali, a New York-headquartered shareholder engagement and governance advisory company owned by TPG Growth, acquires strategic communications consultancy Powerscourt. The acquisition is part of Morrow Sodali’s plans to build a full-service advisory and shareholder services practice across Europe, with TPG’s backing. Powerscourt founder and CEO Rory Godson and managing partner Victoria Palmer-Moore will remain with the business to help build out the European platform. Based in London and Dublin, Powerscourt specializes in financial and capital markets communications, corporate campaigning, ESG advisory and political affairs. “Morrow Sodali is on a journey to become the undisputed best service provider in stakeholder relations and Powerscourt delivers complementary offerings in a key geography. The combination is also an ideal platform for growth as we look for further opportunities across Europe," said Morrow Sodali CEO, international, Christian Sealey.
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Stagwell’s The Harris Poll and Maru Group units are working together to create a suite of AI-based research products that will go to market as "Harris Quest." The unified brand’s suite of martech research offerings, which are set to eventually be fully interoperable with other Stagwell Marketing Cloud software and data tools, will initially include: QuestBrand (real-time brand tracking), QuestDIY (quantitative surveys), QuestPRO (survey and insights tools), QuestCX (customer experience management), Quest IC (insight community management) and QuestAI (digital qualitative and quantitative insights). "Stagwell Marketing Cloud is taking millions of data points from the world's most reliable polling organization and infusing it with a fully scalable software platform," said chairman and CEO Mark Penn.
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Motion, a Chicago-based, woman-owned agency that works with clients across the consumer, healthcare, non-profit, manufacturing and B2B industries, is acquiring Cincinnati-based Rick Miller Communications, effective January 1, 2024. RMC founder and principal Rick Miller will continue in his current role until the end of the year, after which he will support clients as a consultant. Mike Gehrig, previously a partner at FINN Partners, will assume the role of managing director of Motion’s Cincinnati office. Founded in 2009, RMC has provided public relations and content services, issues management, executive counseling and digital analytics to health care and consumer clients such as Myriad Genetics, Bethesda Inc./bi3, Lindner Center of HOPE and the Golden Lamb. “Cincinnati is where I was born and raised,” said Motion CEO and founder Kimberly Eberl. “I know how abundant the business opportunities are in the region, so when the chance to bring RMC onboard was presented it was an obvious move.”
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.
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.
