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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 based in San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Miami that is focused exclusively on the healthcare industry. Deerfield’s previous investment partner was Edgewater Funds. The investment from Martis Capital will provide resources to accelerate development of Deerfield's proprietary solutions built to drive speed to market and return on investment across the brand life cycle. "We are investing in Deerfield because it has built a differentiated platform at the intersection of healthcare, integrated marketing, media, communications, and technology," said Martis Capital managing partner Mario Moreno. "The Deerfield team is a trusted partner to clients with a strong reputation for strategy, responsiveness, execution, and results.”
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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. Over 1,000 adults representative of the U.S. population answered a series of questions between June 16 and 19 about how pivotal GEO is in bringing brands to their attention and forming their opinion of those brands. The study also looks at how people generally underestimate how important “high-authority media” is in building the answers that AI provides. Only 41 percent of respondents agreed that earning authoritative coverage on those platforms is “the most effective long-term strategy to improve AI search visibility.” Survey participants were also asked about their awareness of some snags faced by AI users. For example, fewer than half (43 percent) identified loss of institutional knowledge and unique value creation as the primary risk of outsourcing AI infrastructure to a handful of LLM providers. “This data is a brutal wake-up call for communications professionals and brand executives alike,” said Bospar principal Curtis Sparrer. “Investing in authoritative earned media is essential to your brand’s visibility. AI doesn’t index your ad spend or your owned content. It indexes trust. And trust, in the age of generative AI, is built one credible byline, one media mention, one third-party validation at a time.”
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Highwire launches AcroIntelligence, a proprietary Large Media Model designed to help companies identify emerging narratives, understand competitive shifts, and make faster, more informed decisions. AcroIntelligence continuously ingests and analyzes diverse data streams capturing media and competitive signals, giving C-suites, boards, communicators and marketing teams the clear, practical insights they need to manage business priorities and surface opportunities before they become mainstream conversations. Its features include custom intelligence briefings; narrative and market analysis; deep dives into media behavior insights; and early warning and opportunity alerts. “An endless feed of information can make it difficult to isolate and prioritize fresh trends, let alone get ahead of opportunities or risks that demand attention,” said Highwire co-founder and president Carol Carrubba. “AcroIntelligence was designed to simplify this level of complexity.”
Havas acquires MUT, a Barcelona-based firm focused on experiential marketing and sustainable events... IPREX lauches its AI Task Force...D S Simon Media, one of the first companies to produce a satellite media tour, celebrates its 40th anniversary... Washington Women in Public Relations is sponsoring an event that shows communications pros who work with associations how they can get their messages across clearly, credibly and courageously. “How Associations Lead with Strategic Storytelling,” at 6 p.m. on July 16.
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.
