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Stagwell has acquired Tel Aviv-based LEADERS, a digital agency specializing in influencer marketing and social commerce and the developer of InfluencerMarketing.AI (IMAI), a global influencer marketing SaaS platform. The company will join Stagwell Marketing Cloud’s PRophet Comms Tech Suite of AI-powered offerings, supplementing the bench of influencer marketing platforms currently in use by Stagwell agencies as well as agencies and brands outside of the network. IMAI leverages advanced AI technologies to connect brands with over 300 million creators worldwide. "We are excited to welcome LEADERS to the Stagwell family. This acquisition strengthens our Stagwell Marketing Cloud offering with cutting-edge AI solutions for influencer marketing while marking our first agency in Israel amid a substantial global expansion push from Stagwell this year,” said chairman and CEO Mark Penn
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The Matter Communications 2024 Food & Beverage Trends survey says that social media is a major—and growing—force in consumer decision-making when it comes to grocery shopping. According to the more than 1,000 US consumers surveyed, 85 percent said they have either researched, purchased or considered purchasing a product or service after seeing friends, family or influencers post about it. That’s up 4 percent from the agency’s 2023 influencer survey. In addition, 75 percent said they would be “either somewhat or very likely” to try a viral food or beverage trend after seeing it on social media. But when it comes to the shopping itself, groceries remain a place where the brick-and-mortar experience wins out—56 percent of respondents said they’re more likely to buy food and beverage products in-store compared to online. “Each consumer’s journey is likely to include a combination of online and offline interactions,” said Matter president Mandy Mladenoff. “Brands should recognize that need to not only be nimble and adapt to evolving shopping behaviors, but to also embrace an omnichannel communications and marketing approach.”
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IPREX brings on Lift Consulting of Lisbon and São Paulo-based Dialogue as its two newest partners. Lift Consulting, which has operated in the Portuguese market for more than 29 years, has more than 100 staffers handling all areas of communication and marketing. Its client roster includes Abbott, Accenture, L´Oreal Portugal, McKinsey, Microsoft, Novo Nordisk, Samsung and The Walt Disney Company. Founded in 2008, Dialogue is a female-owned strategic marketing communications agency that operates teams in Miami, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina, supplemented by a network of local strategic partners across the region. It works with such brands as Adobe, Amazon, Apple, Beats by Dre, Twitter/X, Uber, and Zendesk. “We are delighted to welcome two agencies from Portuguese-speaking countries into IPREX,” said Ann-Marie O’Sullivan, IPREX global president and and chief executive of AM O’Sullivan PR. IPREX also welcomes two new regional leaders in Heidi Otway, Americas President and Harri Kammonen, EMEA President.
Champion, which specializes in restaurant, franchise and consumer brands, opens a Miami office, adding to its operations in Dallas and Los Angeles... Violet PR, a Montclair, NJ-based firm that focuses on economic development, commercial real estate and place branding, opens a second office on Park Avenue South in New York... Inflection Point, a founder-led, senior growth systems partner for startups and growth-stage businesses, launches... PRSA announces the recipients of its inaugural Women of Impact Awards. Honorees honorees were recognized during the PRSA Women of Impact Summit & Awards at the Union League Club of Chicago.
FleishmanHillard is shuttering its 20-member Dublin office as Omnicom Public Relations reorganizes its global operations... Vested acquires Watermark, a D.C.-based public affairs and special situations firm.... Matter earns two Pinnacle Awards 2026 Marketing & Communications honors for its clients.
Quad/Graphics launches Direct, a Quad Agency to help marketers create, execute and measure direct marketing campaigns in one connected offering... InnoVision Marketing Group SVP/senior creative director Giselle Campos and SVP/general manager Alanna Markey are among the first-ever winners of the San Diego Business Journal’s Indispensables Awards, which recognizes professionals who make the greatest impact within their organizations and across the San Diego business community... Park Place Technologies, an IT infrastructure services firm that works with Feintuch Communications, releases the second episode of its “The Savvy CIO” podcast. 
Ripley PR is named a silver winner in the TITAN American Business Awards’ Outstanding PR Campaign category... Excellera, a corporate-advisory firm, came in at number one in deal count, as well as fourth in deal value, in Mergermarket’s list of top EMEA firms... Thunderly is telling the stories of military veterans who transferred the discipline, organization and leadership skills developed in service to their country into successful post-military careers as franchise business owners, as part of its year-long "American Dreamers: The Stories of Franchising" effort.
Legendary Boston PR man George Regan is stepping down from day-to-day management of his namesake firm. The 75-year-old will remain chairman.
