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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.
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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.
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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.
MMGY and Las Vegas-based R&R partners are joining forces under parent company MMGY Global... HarrisQuest, the brand and reputation intelligence platform from The Harris Poll, launches HarrisQuest MCP (Model Context Protocol), which lets users easily connect an AI assistant to external data and tools... Curious Orange, a Dublin-based firm that offers strategy, creative design, digital performance marketing, and AI-enabled workflows, launches Curious Orange Live, a dedicated live experiential marketing agency.
The Messina Group is rebranding as Fortius Global and opening an office in London. Jim Messina, who launched the firm in 2013 after serving as campaign manager for Obama for America, will serve as CEO of Fortius Global and continue to set the vision, strategy, and execution for Fortius and its companies... The New York Chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute names the new members of its NextGen Committee for the 2026-2027 term... Billion Dollar Boy, a social and influencer marketing agency with offices in New York and London, acquires Santa Monica, CA-headquartered Creator Authority.
Slowey McManus Communications is receiving a majority stake investment from Adi Sarosa, founder and managing partner of AA24 Communications... Seven Letter, a Washington, D.C.-based bipartisan strategic communications and public affairs firm, marks its 20th anniversary... Jack Morton launches a new global brand identity.
Peregrine, which specializes in asset and wealth management, adds a Los Angeles office to its locations in New York and London... The Dilenschneider Group, which was founded by Hill & Knowlton CEO Robert Dilenschneider, marks 35 years in business... Meltwater launches Intelligence is Always in Style, a marketing campaign based on a short-film series starring actress Kim Cattrall.
53Six, a Dublin- and London-based sports marketing agency, is acquired by Irish experience and entertainment group FUEL... Blue Highway Advisory releases a report that looks at how the shift from CEO to AI has changed the way in which consumers access information, and offers advice on how to handle the new landscape... Get Engaged, whose services include campaign ideation, social media management, influencer marketing, celebrity partnerships, content production and paid media, joins SAMY, a social-first agency headquartered in Madrid. 
