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MERGE, a Chicago-based marketing and technology agency, acquires strategic consulting firm Blazer. The acquisition marks the launch of MERGE’s new cross-functional offering. Blazer CEO Gregory Ng’s experience in transformation strategy, rooted in organizational consulting, data science, and advanced analytics, will expand MERGE’s ability to build tailored solutions. Ng, along with his team, will join MERGE’s integrated offerings team under chief digital officer Libby Morgan. “Blazer brings a data-driven and business-minded consulting approach that sharpens our strategic lens to serve the health and consumer industries we know so well with increasingly holistic outcomes,” said MERGE CEO Stephanie Trunzo.
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Fintech Digital, a financial services digital marketing agency that works with both traditional banks and fintech innovators, launches a subscription-based web3 and blockchain marketing service. Each engagement includes a marketing-trained, regulation-aware AI agent developed by the agency. The agents are built to be used by internal marketing teams at crypto firms as a way of adding efficiency and capacity expansion to their marketing team. The subscription offering is built around a flexible pricing model and includes access to senior strategists, multi-channel content execution, SEO and brand storytelling. “Having already served some of the largest blockchains and banks, the intersection of the two is the thing that really started to get us even more excited in a space that was a natural progression of the use of our resources, skills and talent,” said Fintech Digital CEO and founder Josh Meyer.
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Montieth & Company is holding a free webinar that will discuss how to navigate high-stakes crisis communication during arbitration. It will also provide strategies for managing media silence, speculation and messaging when disclosure is limited or impossible. “Litigation vs. Arbitration,” which takes place at 2 p.m. ET on June 17 (register here), is geared toward litigators, in-house counsel and crisis communications professionals, and will share real-world scenarios and case studies to highlight how proactive planning and early comms involvement can mitigate fallout and safeguard long-term credibility.
Brunner, a Pittsburgh-based integrated marketing agency, acquires AdSkate, an AI-powered creative analytics and marketing intelligence platform that helps brands and agencies optimize advertising performance... Augustine Agency launches Flavor Theory, a foodservice marketing practice aimed at helping restaurants, food manufacturers, distributors and institutional dining organizations grow their brands and businesses... The Acceleration Community of Companies releases a report finding that almost half (49 percent) of Gen Z sports fans say they have become interested in a new sport or athlete because of fan-created content or something entirely outside the sport. 
VPE Communications, which helps organizations authentically connect with diverse audiences, celebrates 38 years in business and announces a new ownership structure... Praytell expands into the Asian market with the opening of a new office in Singapore... The International Public Relations Network unveils a new visual identity and redesigned website. 
SourceCode Communications launches SourceCode Germany, establishing the agency's first office in continental Europe... Clario Group acquires Ted Miller Group, a Miami-founded agency focused on clients in the technology, travel & leisure and financial services sectors... Global Situation Room’s Global Risk Advisory Council is hosting a July 23 webinar that will go over the results of its new Reputation Risk Index.
Havas acquires MUT, a Barcelona-based firm focused on experiential marketing and sustainable events... IPREX lauches its AI Task Force...D S Simon Media, one of the first companies to produce a satellite media tour, celebrates its 40th anniversary... Washington Women in Public Relations is sponsoring an event that shows communications pros who work with associations how they can get their messages across clearly, credibly and courageously. “How Associations Lead with Strategic Storytelling,” at 6 p.m. on July 16.
TEAM LEWIS starts up its AI Practice... Thunderly launches a year-long storytelling campaign focused on how franchising can provide a pathway to business ownership... JIN, a European communications consulting group, introduces "AI Campaigning", a corporate offering designed to model and anticipate stakeholder behavior.
