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Markets EQ, a conversational AI platform, introduces an AI tonal recognition technology intended to evaluate and actively enhance executive communications. The company says that the platform is the first to make advanced tonal recognition analysis available to IR professionals and investors. Tonal recognition technology analyzes voice tonality and identifies emotional cues such as happiness, sadness, anger, or excitement—providing insight into a management team’s emotional and psychological states during earnings calls and other speaking engagements. “For the first time, IROs and investors can gauge not just what is being said, but the underlying confidence and certainty behind these statements, ushering in a new era of transparency and sophistication in corporate communication," said Markets EQ CEO Sean Austin.
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| Renee Rossi, Matt Jaffe |
Bleecker & Broad, a NY-based PR and communications consulting firm that will focus on investment funds, is launched by Relativity Ventures CEO and founder Renee Rossi, who has served in senior roles at Allison+Partners and Weber Shandwick, and Relativity PR specialist Matt Jaffe. Rossi and Jaffe have worked with various stakeholders including private equity, strategic investors, accelerators, and venture funds including Techstars, Celesta Capital, VentureFuel, Starburst Accelerator, Starburst Ventures, Mach37 and Venturescope. The new firm says it works with “leading funds of all shapes and sizes to enhance their brand reputation and spread the impact of their investments.” It operates independently from Relativity.
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Unlock Health, a healthcare technology and services growth platform, acquires SPM Group, a network of health and healthcare agencies including SPM, GLC, Dreamscape and Centretek, from Corridor Capital, LLC, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition will provide Unlock with new in-house omnichannel media planning and buying capabilities and strengthen its services across digital media, content strategy and production, analytics, and creative specialties. "By combining SPM Group's unmatched marketing talent and expertise with our technology and managed care capabilities, we will become the leading, single-source partner for our shared network of clients across the healthcare ecosystem," said SPM Group CEO Amanda Seaford.
Acceleration Community of Companies, a network of independent media, marketing, and communications agencies including DKC, Stripe Theory and MKG, expands ACC Intelligence... Crosby Marketing Communications CEO Raymond Crosby is named to the Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Business Hall of Fame Class... Superson, a Helsinki-based agency with hubs in Amsterdam, Toronto and Singapore, is expanding its footprint in North America with the opening of a Toronto office. 
MMGY and Las Vegas-based R&R partners are joining forces under parent company MMGY Global... HarrisQuest, the brand and reputation intelligence platform from The Harris Poll, launches HarrisQuest MCP (Model Context Protocol), which lets users easily connect an AI assistant to external data and tools... Curious Orange, a Dublin-based firm that offers strategy, creative design, digital performance marketing, and AI-enabled workflows, launches Curious Orange Live, a dedicated live experiential marketing agency.
The Messina Group is rebranding as Fortius Global and opening an office in London. Jim Messina, who launched the firm in 2013 after serving as campaign manager for Obama for America, will serve as CEO of Fortius Global and continue to set the vision, strategy, and execution for Fortius and its companies... The New York Chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute names the new members of its NextGen Committee for the 2026-2027 term... Billion Dollar Boy, a social and influencer marketing agency with offices in New York and London, acquires Santa Monica, CA-headquartered Creator Authority.
Slowey McManus Communications is receiving a majority stake investment from Adi Sarosa, founder and managing partner of AA24 Communications... Seven Letter, a Washington, D.C.-based bipartisan strategic communications and public affairs firm, marks its 20th anniversary... Jack Morton launches a new global brand identity.
Peregrine, which specializes in asset and wealth management, adds a Los Angeles office to its locations in New York and London... The Dilenschneider Group, which was founded by Hill & Knowlton CEO Robert Dilenschneider, marks 35 years in business... Meltwater launches Intelligence is Always in Style, a marketing campaign based on a short-film series starring actress Kim Cattrall.
