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Vested forms a strategic partnership with Fintel Connect, a growth marketing platform built for the financial industry. The partnership will focus on driving growth for banks and financial brands through affiliate marketing. Vested says that on average, affiliate marketing drives up to 40 percent of financial brands’ net new accounts, making it one of the most impactful growth channels available. By providing Vested clients with Fintel Connect’s network of over 5,000 finance-focused affiliates, influencers and media partners, the collaboration will let financial institutions expand their reach, improve ROI and acquire high-quality customers through targeted, compliant and data-driven affiliate programs. “Through our partnership with Fintel Connect, we’re giving clients access to a purpose-built affiliate platform for financial services,” said Vested group CEO Binna Kim. “Together, we’re helping banks, fintechs and other financial institutions scale their acquisition engines while maintaining brand safety, compliance, and integrity.”
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WPP launches WPP Open Pro, a new edition of its AI marketing platform WPP Open, which will provide a range of integrated, AI-powered delivery models. The new offering is meant to expand the company’s reach while giving existing clients an efficient way to leverage WPP’s platform and tools. It will build on WPP Open by packaging three connected functional areas into a simple interface that gives marketing teams—from established enterprises and WPP clients to emerging businesses—options to let them plan with AI-powered strategy, create content at scale, and publish content directly to major ad platforms. “We’re adding WPP Open Pro to our offer, a powerful new edition that puts our AI advantage directly into the hands of a much wider array of brands and businesses,” said Cindy Rose, CEO of WPP. “This is about transforming how marketing is delivered, expanding our total addressable market, and giving more brands the tools they need to lead in the AI era.”
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MikeWorldWide is hosting a webinar on Nov. 3 at 12:30 p.m. designed to help senior communicators navigate the opportunities of AI. The Platform Fluency Initiative Webinar will take attendees through the principles of when, how and why to integrate AI across the communications function. The session will feature Carreen Winters (president of reputation), Megan Hueter (EVP of digital innovation), and Sal Della Monica (EVP of integration and marketing), along with Marc Lavallee, emerging technology and AI strategist and former head of R&D for the New York Times. They’ll address how communicators can evolve their AI use, taking it from just increasing efficiency to achieving true effectiveness.
BGR Analytics rates Texas as the best state for AI investors to place their money, according to its newly launched BGR Best States for AI Investment Index... Pierpont Communications, a PR and integrated digital marketing agency headquartered in Houston, expands into South Florida... The Pollack Group names Project Petals as the recipient of its 2026 Big Red Grant.
LaVoie Strategic Communications Group launches an integrated market platform and redesigned website meant to reflect the agency’s evolving role advising healthcare, life sciences and government organizations... Highwire publishes “Passing the Torch: A Framework for CEO Transition Communication for Professional Services Businesses"... Auris, a communications lab backed by a strategic investment from Helios & Partners, launches.
MikeWorldWide acquires HudsonLake, a strategic communications firm specializing in organizational change, employee experience and workforce communications.
AKCG – Public Relations Counselors, a Philadelphia-area firm that offers crisis planning, crisis management, media training and media relations, acquires Hennes Communications... The Martin Group, an integrated marketing communications firm headquartered in Buffalo, acquires creative, brand strategy and content studio Mr. Smith Agency... ExpertClick, a platform connecting journalists with qualified interview sources, is offering a database of 357 top U.S. media outlets.
Perry Communications Group, a Sacramento‑based public affairs and strategic communications firm, marks its 30th anniversary... Bullish, an institutional-grade digital asset platform, enters into a definitive agreement to acquire Equiniti, the owner of press release service Notified... IPREX releases “Your Agency’s AI Reality Check Toolkit."
