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The Shipyard, which owns Fahlgren Mortine and TURNER, makes a strategic investment in FancyAI, a generative engine optimization platform that helps brands strengthen visibility and credibility across AI-powered discovery environments. The Shipyard says that the acquisition makes it the first agency to bring patent-pending GEO technology directly to clients. It has begun deploying FancyAI's technology internally and with select clients, using the technology to inform integrated scopes of work across paid, earned and owned channels. The agency is customizing and evolving the platform to meet client needs. “This accelerates our business strategy: we have always believed the agency of the future would be fully integrated, technologically enabled, and designed to lead clients through what's next. This investment is a major step forward in delivering on that vision," said The Shipyard chairman & CEO Rick Milenthal.
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LAVIDGE launches InkFox Publicity (a LAVIDGE Co.), a publicity firm that will work with publishers; hybrid presses; and professional, indie and self-published authors. The launch marks a strategic expansion of the agency’s literary publicity practice. InkFox’s strategies will blend media outreach with discovery platforms, thought leadership and long-tail visibility—helping books earn attention, trust and readership. The unit will be led by LAVIDGE managing director Anne Robertson alongside associate director Lindsey Gobel. “As publishing continues to change, we see enormous opportunity to enhance how we support publishers and authors navigating both the challenges and the possibilities of today’s media environment,” said LAVIDGE co-president and CFO Sandra Torre.
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5W PR introduces its investment division, a dedicated practice built to support investment and financial services firms across wealth management, venture capital, banking and private equity, ETFs and private markets. The new division delivers integrated PR and digital communications programs designed to help firms clearly articulate their value, build trust and influence investor decision-making. It will focus on optimizing media strategies to strengthen how firms are discovered, represented and understood across AI-powered search and emerging platforms. The new practice will sit within 5W PR's corporate division. "This practice was built to deliver integrated communications strategies spanning brand, thought leadership, and crisis management that align closely with the business objectives of our clients," said 5W CEO Matthew Caiola.
Ruder Finn launches rf.Voices, an integrated influence offering that brings together AI-powered influencer marketing, customer advocacy and paid amplification under one measurable framework... The Pollack Group is accepting applications through March 31 for The Big Red Grant, a $40,000 pro bono strategic PR and marketing engagement program awarded to a nonprofit organization ready for growth... D S Simon Media releases a report that says almost seven in ten producers (68 percent) are more interested in airing a story when they know it has been optimized for AI.
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. 
