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WPP acquires data collaboration platform InfoSum. The platform will join GroupM, WPP’s media investment group, as a key component of a new generation of AI-enhanced marketing solutions for clients. WPP says the acquisition is a major strategic step forward for its AI-driven data offer, giving WPP and its clients immediate access to the industry’s largest cross-platform source of privacy-safe, actionable data for marketing intelligence, audience targeting, and AI model training. InfoSum’s capabilities will be integrated into WPP Open, the company’s intelligent marketing operating system, allowing clients to rapidly build, train and deploy custom AI models that utilize diverse datasets. WPP CEO Mark Read said that making InfoSum part of WPP “allows clients to stay in complete control of their first-party data, while also giving them access to vastly greater quantities of high-quality, privacy-compliant data and pioneering technology that is not available anywhere else in the market today.”
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ke comms, a mission-driven public relations and writing agency based in Tulsa, OK, creates a pro bono division called The Impact Narrative. The division supports progressive clients that need strategic guidance with public relations. Its first client is United States for Abortion, a reproductive justice design initiative. The Impact Narrative is supporting United States for Abortion with media relations and strategic planning. “A majority of Americans support abortion access, according to the Pew Research Center,” said ke comms founder and CEO Kristi Eaton. “The Impact Narrative will allow United States for Abortion to gain greater visibility and support their design initiatives.”
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| Marisa Toro |
The Public Relations Global Network has appointed Marlow Insight co-founder and partner Marisa Toro as regional vice president for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Toro succeeds Scandinavian Communications managing director Christina Rytter, who has served since November 2023. Rytter, who was also PRGN president from 2017 to 2018, remains an active network member. Toro will now work to enhance PRGN’s footprint across the EMEA region, focusing on business development and the recruitment of new members. This strategic move underscores PRGN’s commitment to bolstering its leadership and fostering collaboration throughout its global network. “Her innovative approach and leadership acumen will bring fresh insights to the EMEA region, enhancing our executive committee’s efforts to elevate PRGN’s global impact,” said PRGN President Natacha Clarac.
This year, the O’Dwyer’s rankings for top PR firms took a jump from 133 to 140 entries—a number that includes 21 firms that were not in the rankings last year.
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. 
ChangeMakers, an independent shop with 400 professionals across Canada and the U.S., is merging with The Creative Dept., which advises innovative and culture-shaping companies on brand strategy and creative direction... Full Court Press Communications, a Bay Area-based strategic communications firm, celebrates its 25th anniversary... R&J Strategic Communications marks its 40th anniversary by launching its Moments That Made a Difference campaign.
