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APCO is launching the Global Africa Investment Summit, a platform designed to accelerate investment across Africa and help transform the continent’s economic future. Countries that subscribe to the GAIS platform will work with APCO staff, alongside a dedicated GAIS team, to identify their top sovereign assets for investment. Companies will also be invited to join the platform as members. The goal of GAIS is to connect countries with the companies that can help them unlock and monetize their opportunities. These partnerships will culminate in an annual forum. APCO founder and executive chair Margery Kraus is a co-founder of GAIS, along with Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, president emeritus of the African Development Bank Group. Former U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas Greenfield will also be part of GAIS. “The early interest from leaders and partners has already been extraordinary, which only reinforces how much potential GAIS has to make a real impact,” said Kraus.
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| Ian Hiscock |
LV8, which specializes in social media strategies and digital marketing, launches a paid media practice, expanding the agency’s capabilities across performance marketing, growth strategy and audience acquisition. The new practice will be led by Ian Hiscock, who joins the firm as head of paid media strategy. Hiscock founded boutique advertising agency Noteworthy HQ. The paid media practice’s offerings include paid social, programmatic media, creator amplification, new customer funnel strategy, and full-funnel performance measurement. “Paid media has always been part of how we help brands convert audiences to customer,” said Griffin Haddrill, who co-founded LV8 with Gabby Gamad. “This launch is about formalizing that practice, investing in specialized leadership, and scaling what’s already working.”
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Moxie Strategies introduces Aimi by Moxie, an AI-powered qualitative research product. Short for AI-moderated interviews, Aimi replaces the traditional focus group with one-on-one, adaptive conversations that the agency says capture authentic language and emotional nuance at scale, enabling public affairs, corporate communications and policy teams to sharpen messages, avoid missteps and deploy resources with greater precision. By delivering actionable insights in as little as 10 days, Aimi promises to help teams move faster, test ideas earlier and make confident decisions without the delays, costs or group dynamics that limit traditional focus groups. “Aimi helps our clients cut through the clutter by understanding the language that resonates, the concerns that actually matter, and the narratives that move people,” said Moxie Strategies CEO Maggie Moran. “That leads to better outcomes—and far more efficient use of client resources.”
TEAM LEWIS starts up its AI Practice... Thunderly launches a year-long storytelling campaign focused on how franchising can provide a pathway to business ownership... JIN, a European communications consulting group, introduces "AI Campaigning", a corporate offering designed to model and anticipate stakeholder behavior.
Karsh Hagan and Madden Media join forces as KHM... Endeavor Communications opens an office in the Harbor Point neighborhood of Stamford, CT... Big Red Oak, a Toronto-based communications firm, and D.C. area-based PA firm New Hill Consulting have launched a joint service exclusively for companies in the nuclear energy sector... The Pollack Group has partnered with Brandi AI, a platform for enterprise brand intelligence, AI visibility and Generative Engine Optimization.
Real Chemistry acquires Spurwing Communications, which advises pharmaceutical and healthcare organizations—as well as clients across a broader range of industries—throughout APAC... 5W AI Communications (5WPR) is moving its headquarters from New York to Florida (Miami, Tampa)... Valence Communications, which will focus on biopharmaceutical companies, launches under Matt Middleman, who was founder and CEO at LifeSci Communications.
Moburst, which specializes in digital marketing and AI-powered solutions, acquires Amazon marketing agency Hyperzon... The Public Relations Global Network launches its Health Practice Group, which brings together more than 20 independent agencies across four continents to support health care, life sciences and pharma organizations... ICR’s newly released Q2 2026 SPAC Market Update & Outlook shows a healthy environment for IPOs... Red Banyan, a senior-level crisis management, litigation PR, and reputation management firm, makes its first appearance in the Chambers and Partners listings.
Deerfield Group, a marketing, communications and media firm focused on the healthcare and life sciences sectors, receives a strategic majority investment from Martis Capital, a private equity firm... Bospar and market research firm Propeller Insights release the results of a study that shows public understanding of AI and the role it plays in brand discoverability is lagging behind the progress of the technology itself... Highwire launches AcroIntelligence, a proprietary Large Media Model designed to help companies identify emerging narratives, understand competitive shifts, and make faster, more informed decisions.
