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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.
Matter relaunches its local marketing services, which will focus on providing approachable, agency-caliber marketing programs to help smaller-scale businesses grow in the age of AI... Publicis Sports, the sport and culture marketing arm of Publicis Group, is collaborating with Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs and 3 Arts Sports on the launch of TEKTA, a Name, Image and Likeness consulting and activation offering... The 23rd Annual International Business Awards announces its Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award winners for 2026.
The Pollack Group launches its Brand Visibility Index, a research series that examines how brands are represented, ranked and cited by generative AI platforms... PARC Solutions, a New York- and London-based advisory firm, forms a strategic collaboration with Guillot Consulting, a provider of lobbying, government relations, political advocacy, and business development services... SalterMitchell PR, a Tallahassee, FL-based firm, wins two 2026 Florida Public Relations Association Golden Image Awards.
Page launches the Polansky Future Leaders Fund, which was established through a gift from 2025 Page Hall of Fame inductee and former Weber Shandwick Global CEO Andy Polansky... Ruder Finn reintroduces its website, ruderfinn.com, which will now feature a large language model (LLM) as its primary user interface... Higher Plane Media is launched by former Sloane & Company CEO Darren Brandt.
Champion, which specializes in restaurant, franchise and consumer brands, opens a Miami office, adding to its operations in Dallas and Los Angeles... Violet PR, a Montclair, NJ-based firm that focuses on economic development, commercial real estate and place branding, opens a second office on Park Avenue South in New York... Inflection Point, a founder-led, senior growth systems partner for startups and growth-stage businesses, launches... PRSA announces the recipients of its inaugural Women of Impact Awards. Honorees honorees were recognized during the PRSA Women of Impact Summit & Awards at the Union League Club of Chicago.
FleishmanHillard is shuttering its 20-member Dublin office as Omnicom Public Relations reorganizes its global operations... Vested acquires Watermark, a D.C.-based public affairs and special situations firm.... Matter earns two Pinnacle Awards 2026 Marketing & Communications honors for its clients.
