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Burson launches Reputation Capital, an AI-powered tech and consulting solution designed to connect drivers of reputation to specific business outcomes such as stock price, sales or purchase intent. Reputation Capital defines eight levers of reputation management and uses data and AI models to predict the potential impact of the media environment, news, narratives, events or actions on each lever. Burson’s counselors then use that information to develop strategic and creative messages and ideas, which are then tested and refined as regards their potential for impact. The agency says that this approach facilitates immediate decision making so businesses can act with speed and precision against reputational shifts that have a direct bearing on commercial success. Reputation Capital is available through WPP Open, its AI-enabled marketing platform. “With Reputation Capital, we're pinpointing the specific drivers of reputation, forecasting the impact of potential actions, connecting these insights directly to business outcomes, and pairing them with expert counsel,” said Burson global CEO Corey duBrowa.
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Herringbone Digital, a digital marketing agency backed by Trinity Hunt Partners, acquires Hennessey Digital, which specializes in SEO and other complementary digital marketing solutions for law firms. The acquisition, Herringbone Digital's first in the legal marketing vertical, is part of its strategy to build a digital marketing platform across the dental, legal, healthcare and home services sectors. Hennessey Digital will continue to operate under its established brand, and all members of Hennessey Digital's executive team will continue in their current roles. “With Herringbone's support, we can preserve the brand identity and business structure we've worked hard to build while gaining the resources to expand our capabilities,” said Hennessey Digital founder and CEO Jason Henessey.
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Mercury Analytics releases Qual at Scale, a research solution that can be used to enable a wide range of programs for PR pros and marketers. At the core of the platform is MercuryIQ, an adaptive AI engine that engages participants directly within a survey. As respondents answer open-ended questions, MercuryIQ evaluates their responses in real time. When an answer is vague, incomplete or off-topic, the AI acts as a virtual moderator by probing deeper with focused follow-up questions. Once responses are collected, MercuryAI, the platform’s natural language analysis engine, scans thousands of open-ended answers to identify themes, tone, and sentiment, and extracts priority quotes. “We can conduct hundreds — even thousands — of meaningful conversations in parallel, delivering both traditional quantitative insights and the rich nuance behind people’s opinions.,” said Mercury Analystics CEO Ron Howard.
Precision Strategies, an integrated strategy and marketing agency with offices in Washington and New York, acquires Firehouse Strategies, a DC-based public affairs firm... AVENIR GLOBAL acquires London-based Thinks Insight & Strategy... Good Company, which bills itself as a “cultural engineering firm,” is launched by DJ Hardy, a veteran of Johannesburg-based communications consultancy arxna and M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment and Casey Stickles, who has worked at 5WPR, Rubenstein and MWW.
PSC (Princeton Strategic Communications) acquires Nonprofit Partners... CG Life launches 24/364, a cultural brand platform intended to drive awareness, connection and action aimed at keeping rare disease at the forefront of the health and social conversation... Interluxe Group, which focuses on brand experiences and in-person activations; Quinn, a strategic communications agency; and media and digital agency North & Warren are uniting under the Interluxe Group banner.
KITH, which provides corporate reputation and crisis preparation services, is now owned by CEO Stephanie Craig, who has been with the firm since 2021... The Marketing Cloud, a part of Stagwell, introduces several expansions to Agent Cloud, the platform it launched in October 2025 to simplify access to its AI tools and marketing assistants.... Notified launches its AI Press Release Optimizer.
V2 Communications launches its AI Visibility Solution and Earned Media at Scale, two service offerings designed to help companies increase visibility and credibility in generative search... The Public Relations Global Network brings on Greenough Communications as its Boston member agency... DBC is relaunching The DBC Industry Calendar as a free site to help communicators more easily discover relevant events and awards in the cluttered event landscape driven by the growth of webinars and online events. 
PAN releases new original research showing that a significant share of B2B citations surfaced by ChatGPT are inaccurate, misattributed or entirely fabricated, introducing a new credibility risk for brands... REQ, which has offices in DC and San Diego, opens in Phoenix... Notified introduces Market Intelligence, an addition to its all-in-one IR Hub, which gives IR teams a more streamlined way to prepare for earnings calls.
