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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.
CIVIC, a New York-based brand experience agency, acquires strategic communications consultancy Wave Kilo... Hotwire Global reaches an agreement with Morning Consult to give Hotwire Global instant access to Morning Consult’s proprietary dataset... The Public Relations Student Society of America announced its 2026–2027 International Committee... Avenue Z is named a Shopify Platinum Partner, the highest tier of Shopify’s Service Partner Program.
ICR releases a report that says the SPAC IPO market has been trending upward—and is likely to stay on that track... Washington Women in PR is sponsoring an April 15 event that looks at how women can change the dynamics that often keep them in lower-visibility positions through strategic self-advocacy and organizational awareness... Life Science Cares Boston, an organization supported by LaVoieHeathScience, will convene leaders, employees and partners from across the life sciences industry for its annual Impact Breakfast on April 13 at the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport.
Bell Yard Communications and Kysen PR, London-based firms that focus on legal market and litigation PR, are merging. The combined firm will operate as Bell Yard Kysen Communications... FINN Partners launches Travel with Tastemakers, a global report that looks at more than 25 destinations through the eyes of the creatives who shape them... Baker Public Relations, a woman-owned agency based in Albany with offices in Pittsburgh, PA and St. Petersburg, FL, rebrands as The Baker Agency. 
