 |
Real Chemistry is opening a second UK-based office in Manchester in early 2024. The new office will build on the work of the agency’s London and Zurich-based teams. Real Chemistry’s expanded EMEA leadership will include SVP, head of medical Jason Gardner, who has 25 years of experience in global medical affairs, global clinical development and global network agency roles and SVP, head of client services Celine Parmentier, who was previously client services director at Havas, as well as James Graham and Greg Barter, who will both serve as EVP, executive director in Real Chemistry’s 21GRAMS unit. “We are excited to open our second UK office in Manchester to tap into the existing scientific and research community there and increase the dedicated scientific expertise we can provide our clients,” said Real Chemistry CEO Shankar Narayanan. “Expanding our presence in Europe gives our clients increased global expertise.”
 |
Stagwell launches a partnership with Google Cloud and SADA, a Google Cloud Premier Partner, to develop generative AI marketing solutions supporting Stagwell agencies, client partners and product development within the Stagwell Marketing Cloud. SMC will leverage Google Cloud's gen AI solutions including Vertex AI, Duet AI and other advanced tools, with an initial focus on such initiatives as go-to-market programs for brands supported by gen AI, translation services for market research and survey solutions, an AI agent-to-agent service and a proprietary Stagwell large language model (LLM) purpose-built for Stagwell clients. SMC also plans to release its solutions on Google Cloud Marketplace in the future, scaling access to Stagwell's marketing-focused AI-enabled product suite. "Partnering with Google Cloud is an opportunity to strengthen our SMC offering and engage with some of the best technology professionals as we build, test, and scale our gen AI products," said Stagwell chairman and CEO Mark Penn.
 |
Intelligent Relations, an AI-powered agency, introduces new features for its proprietary software, Preston, that are intended to help communications professionals and in-house marketers better interact with journalists and secure coverage. The new features include: Up-to-date journalist recommendations, regional coverage analysis, deep coverage attribute analysis, AI-generated bios and lookalike journalists (suggesting similar journalists based on 1500+ points of similarity). “We’ve integrated those insights gained from AI into Preston to provide users an unprecedented look into the stories and storytellers that move the media,” said Intelligent Relations co-founder and general manager Steve Marcinuk.
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.
V2 Communications launches its AI Visibility Solution and Earned Media at Scale, two service offerings designed to help companies increase visibility and credibility in generative search... The Public Relations Global Network brings on Greenough Communications as its Boston member agency... DBC is relaunching The DBC Industry Calendar as a free site to help communicators more easily discover relevant events and awards in the cluttered event landscape driven by the growth of webinars and online events. 
