 |
Next 15 Group is bringing five of its B2B agencies together into Pretzl, a B2B marketing business that will fully come to market in February 2026. Pretzl will include Agent3 Group, Publitek, This Machine, Velocity and Twogether, encompassing approximately 300 employees working in North America, Europe and APAC. Pretzl will leverage a people-plus-technology offering that includes a combination of talent from the legacy brands and a new AI-driven solution, JourneyLab. JourneyLab, built on AI and data-driven customer insights, is focused on enabling teams to understand key audiences, map real buyer behaviors, devise and deliver personalized experiences, and continuously optimize programs with actionable insights. “Pretzl combines the speed and scale of AI, the objectivity of data, and most importantly the human touch and expertise from a deep bench of B2B specialists, to help brands get closer to their customers,” said Pretzel CEO and current CEO of Agent 3Group Clive Armitage.
 |
Heron Agency, a woman-owned and operated boutique PR firm, marks its 25th anniversary. The agency works with clients ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies in sectors including hospitality, lifestyle, corporate, franchise, non-profit and entertainment. It has represented over 2,500 clients, with more than 20,000 press releases issued, over 600,000 media placements secured and 98 percent of their collaborations resulting in contract extensions, future projects or client referrals. "Reaching our 25-year anniversary is a major milestone for us, and we are deeply grateful to our clients, media partners, and dedicated team for their unwavering support," said Heron Agency founder and CEO Noreen Heron.
 |
Acceleration Community of Companies launches Definity, a synthetic audience platform that lets brands pressure-test creative and messaging against high-fidelity digital twins of their key stakeholders. These digital twins, which simulate responses from customers, investors, employees, regulators, and media across broad demographics, micro-communities, and even individual targets, are synthesized from census data, behavioral patterns, ethnographic research, and proprietary signals drawn from online audience behavior. The platform then simulates audience responses in seconds, allowing companies to validate creative, de-risk decisions, and forecast campaign outcomes. “Definity helps CMOs mitigate budget and reputational risk so they can push bold ideas without stepping on cultural landmines,” said ACC president Monica Chun.
PKPR, a New York-based boutique shop, launches a book publicity division focused on nonfiction authors... Palantir Technologies and Stagwell form a partnership to create an AI-driven platform for marketers... The Conference Board is presenting a Nov. 18-19 event at the Brooklyn Marriott that will look at the priorities, challenges and opportunities facing AI decision-makers today.
Gregory FCA is marking its 35th anniversary with a comprehensive rebrand... Madden Media, a Tucson-based agency, teams with Denver-based Karsh Hagan... Jasper, an AI content automation platform, launches Jasper Grid, an interface that allows marketing teams to create and orchestrate content across a range of channels, audiences and regions.
Sommerfield Communications, a corporate, financial, and crisis shop that was acquired by Allison Worldwide in early 2021, re-launches as an independently owned firm... D S Simon Media launches a broadcast media tour designed to enhance Generative Engine Optimization... The Public Relations Society of America’s ICON 2025 Conference brought together close to 2,100 in DC from Oct. 28-30.
CorpBridge Advisors is launched by Bob Christie (Brunswick and Alibaba Group veteran) and Russ Rubino (Nasdaq and Intercontinental Exchange/NYSE alum)... Golin marked its 30th anniversary in Miami with an Oct. 23 gathering that celebrated its new outpost in Coral Gables... The Notability Company debuted at the PRSA annual ICON Conference in Washington.
Padilla launches Padilla GEO 3D, a service that aims to improve generative AI search results for brands and organizations... Bader Rutter, a Milwaukee-based B2B marketing agency, unveils the Chef Advisory Network, an initiative designed to bring the voice of the kitchen into food company boardrooms... Dilenschneider Group founder and principal Robert Dilenschneider’s new book, Respect: How to Change the World One Interaction at a Time, was released on Oct. 28 by Wiley... Blue Highway Advisory and Blue Highway Global, founded by former Mercury Public Affairs managing director Ian McCaleb in 2022, rebrands.
