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Stagwell reaches an agreement to acquire WHAT'S NEXT PARTNERS, a French digital brand and marketing consultancy. WNP will become the first co-branded member of Stagwell’s Anomaly Alliance in a partnership model designed to expand Anomaly's global footprint beyond its existing offices in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, London, Berlin and Shanghai. The acquisition of WNP is intended to deepen Anomaly's presence in Europe and add capabilities in scaled digital content and AI-enabled CRM and data, as well as the leadership in-market to compete for and service larger European accounts. WNP founder and CEO Guy Chauvel, who previously served as EVP of J.W.T. and CEO of Europe at Havas, will drive the creation of new client solutions for WNP and the Anomaly Alliance alongside Anomaly founding partner and executive chairman Carl Johnson. "In What's Next Partners, we have found kindred spirits in Europe, and I could not be more excited to welcome them to our team," said Johnson.
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A recent survey from D S Simon Media found that an overwhelming majority (82 percent) of 61 PR pros said they look at the election year as either an opportunity or a challenge for their media relations plans, but only 26 percent say they plan to change their tactics or media strategy in response. “There’s clearly a disconnect,” says D S Simon Media CEO Doug Simon. “Given the high level of recognition that the media landscape has changed, we’d expect a similar level of respondents would be changing their strategy. That isn’t happening.” Out of those who are re-tooling their tactics, 14 percent say they are giving up, but 57 percent say they plan to adjust by shifting their focus from network and cable television to local TV news, 64 percent are upping their use of social media, and 71 percent are focusing on digital opportunities. Simon says that an increased emphasis on local TV news can actually help PR pros escape the wall-to-well election coverage, with only nine percent of programming on those stations being taken up by political news. “We are hearing that these stations are focusing on news viewers can use,” Simon said. “Producers recognize if viewers want politics, they can tune in to the cable network aligned with their views.”
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| Cathy Planchard |
Allison launches Allison AI, an integrated suite of products and consulting services focused on securely and responsibly leveraging AI for their clients’ business needs. Allison AI’s initial external and internal services span three categories: advisory and consulting, training and products. The suite of products was developed by a team led by Allison global CEO of marketing innovation Cathy Planchard along with agency partners Karyn Barr, president, technology and Brent Diggins, managing director, performance and intelligence. “We’re proud to be ahead of the curve as an agency and offer a team of experts, a menu of services and a line of AI products that, together, represent how marketing and communications can be accelerated by the awesome capability of AI,” said Planchard. The Allison AI suite is available now to clients and agency partners. Additional products are slated for release later this year.
PKPR, a New York-based boutique shop, launches a book publicity division focused on nonfiction authors... Palantir Technologies and Stagwell form a partnership to create an AI-driven platform for marketers... The Conference Board is presenting a Nov. 18-19 event at the Brooklyn Marriott that will look at the priorities, challenges and opportunities facing AI decision-makers today.
Gregory FCA is marking its 35th anniversary with a comprehensive rebrand... Madden Media, a Tucson-based agency, teams with Denver-based Karsh Hagan... Jasper, an AI content automation platform, launches Jasper Grid, an interface that allows marketing teams to create and orchestrate content across a range of channels, audiences and regions.
Sommerfield Communications, a corporate, financial, and crisis shop that was acquired by Allison Worldwide in early 2021, re-launches as an independently owned firm... D S Simon Media launches a broadcast media tour designed to enhance Generative Engine Optimization... The Public Relations Society of America’s ICON 2025 Conference brought together close to 2,100 in DC from Oct. 28-30.
CorpBridge Advisors is launched by Bob Christie (Brunswick and Alibaba Group veteran) and Russ Rubino (Nasdaq and Intercontinental Exchange/NYSE alum)... Golin marked its 30th anniversary in Miami with an Oct. 23 gathering that celebrated its new outpost in Coral Gables... The Notability Company debuted at the PRSA annual ICON Conference in Washington.
Padilla launches Padilla GEO 3D, a service that aims to improve generative AI search results for brands and organizations... Bader Rutter, a Milwaukee-based B2B marketing agency, unveils the Chef Advisory Network, an initiative designed to bring the voice of the kitchen into food company boardrooms... Dilenschneider Group founder and principal Robert Dilenschneider’s new book, Respect: How to Change the World One Interaction at a Time, was released on Oct. 28 by Wiley... Blue Highway Advisory and Blue Highway Global, founded by former Mercury Public Affairs managing director Ian McCaleb in 2022, rebrands.
