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Salesforce signs a definitive agreement to acquire Qualified, which provides agentic AI marketing solutions. The deal brings Qualified’s real-time AI agents directly into Salesforce’s Agentforce platform. The deal, which is expected to close in the first quarter of Salesforce’s fiscal year 2027 (which starts Feb. 1, 2026), is intended to let customers quickly deploy fully featured marketing agents. “As Salesforce alumni, my co-founders and I have always built our products to deeply integrate with Salesforce,” said Qualified CEO and co-founder Kraig Swensrud. “Joining forces with Salesforce is a natural evolution that will allow us to bring the power of agentic marketing to the enterprise.”
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Factors.ai, a B2B demand generation and measurement platform and LinkedIn Marketing Partner, releases a report showing that while almost seven out of 10 (68.3 percent) CMOs are upping their digital marketing budgets, the way in which those budgets are being employed to bring in customers is undergoing a pronounced shift. The report notes that paid search functions are “under severe stress,” with more than half of the companies surveyed reporting a drop in paid traffic. It also notes that buyer visits to company websites are taking a hit, with 67 percent of respondents reporting a decline in traffic to their sites. The main takeaway is that brand recognition and consumer trust efforts are become more important, with social media platforms taking on a pivotal role in how buying decisions are made. According to the report, 92 percent of buyers now have a preferred vendor before formal evaluation. “Conventional tactics that dominated the past decade like gated content, webinars, lead capture tactics and liner funnels are straining under the weight of a transformed buying landscape,” said Factors.ai co-founder Praveen Das. “Buyers now control their own journey, often entering conversations already selected.”
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Jarrard, a healthcare strategic communications and change management firm, launches its Children's Hospitals and Pediatric Healthcare specialty, expanding the firm's academic health systems practice. The new specialty focuses on the needs of pediatric organizations, from preserving Medicaid funding and elevating community health to strengthening brand, communications and philanthropy. It will support independent children's hospitals, system-owned pediatric hospitals and pediatric health services organizations. Areas covered by the specialty will include issues, advocacy and public affairs; brand strategy and growth; change management and internal communications; philanthropy and donor engagement; and research and market assessments. "Children's hospitals are highly trusted and sit at the heart of their communities," said Jarrard founding partner and president Anne Hancock Toomey. "Our new specialty ensures these leaders have a mission-driven partner who understands both the nuance of pediatric care and the broader healthcare environment.”
KNB Communications acquires Roketto, a digital agency specializing in generative engine optimization, web design and development, digital advertising and inbound marketing strategy. The combined agency rebrands as Sōvyn... Krupp Agency, an independent New York shop, celebrates its 30th anniversary.... The Worldcom Public Relations Group adds CARRALSIERRA in Mexico City and We Are DNA in Bristol, UK.
The Motion Agency, a woman-owned marketing-services agency, acquires Chicago-based ad agency LKH&S, which has clients such as Hyundai, EmployCo, EvAI and Toggler... Method Communications, which has offices in New York, London and San Francisco, opens in Boston... IPREX adds Coral Communications (South Africa), PR Consultancy (Montenegro) SE2 (Denver) and Trium (Albania).
Kloss Creatives, which works with consumer packaged goods and wellness brands, rebrands to KALET... Everything Branding, which operates from offices in San Diego and Michigan, acquires Darlington Marketing Co... Onfolio Holdings launches SharePulse, an investor relations analytics and engagement platform, and Parlance, a managed communications service.
Fire on the Hill, and Fourth Day, along with its sister company Quatrième Jour, are merging... 5W publishes a study that says many long-time media heavy hitters are coming up short in terms of their AI influence... EducationDynamics, a higher education marketing and enrollment management company, acquires Net Natives... Mark Allen & Co. is launching an expanded thought leadership model with multiple activations at Cannes Lions 2026. 
4media group acquires The CauseWay Agency, a purpose-driven communications agency specializing in public service announcements... Featured, an AI co-pilot for PR, launches a platform that will allow PR professionals and subject-matter experts to find media opportunities, submit pitches, and land featured placements... IPREX, a global network of independent communications and marketing agencies, brings on Heidi Otway of SalterMitchell PR in Florida as global president.
