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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.”
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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.
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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.
Kloss Creatives, which works with consumer packaged goods and wellness brands, rebrands to KALET... Everything Branding, which operates from offices in San Diego and Michigan, acquires Darlington Marketing Co.... Onfolio Holdings launches SharePulse, an investor relations analytics and engagement platform, and Parlance, a managed communications service.
Fire on the Hill, and Fourth Day, along with its sister company Quatrième Jour, are merging... 5W publishes a study that says many long-time media heavy hitters are coming up short in terms of their AI influence... EducationDynamics, a higher education marketing and enrollment management company, acquires Net Natives... Mark Allen & Co. is launching an expanded thought leadership model with multiple activations at Cannes Lions 2026. 
4media group acquires The CauseWay Agency, a purpose-driven communications agency specializing in public service announcements... Featured, an AI co-pilot for PR, launches a platform that will allow PR professionals and subject-matter experts to find media opportunities, submit pitches, and land featured placements... IPREX, a global network of independent communications and marketing agencies, brings on Heidi Otway of SalterMitchell PR in Florida as global president.
Montieth & Company introduces M&Co Litigation Intelligence... BERA.ai, a brand measurement platform that ties brand equity to revenue and business growth, introduces BERA LLM Brand Rankings... Matter launches its PR Media Group.
PRSA adds author and branding expert Sally Hogshead and three-time Daytime Emmy Award-winning journalist and entrepreneur Gaby Natale to the keynote lineup for ICON 2026, its annual conference for public relations and communications professionals... Publicity for Good founder and CEO Heather Holmes releases “Seen by AI, Found by Customers”... 5W AI Communications publishes “The 5W Retrieval Index — Volume I: The AI Retrieval Economy, 2026.
