 |
Matter relaunches its local marketing services unit, which will focus on providing approachable, agency-caliber marketing programs to help smaller-scale businesses grow in the age of AI. Among the offering’s features are local search engine optimization and marketing (SEO & SEM), Google Business Profile management, Review strategy and response management, organic social media management, website optimization, and digital ad & print collateral creation. They are intended to give local businesses access to marketing results traditionally reserved for larger brands, flexible to their budgets and goals. “Our goal is to make exceptional digital marketing results accessible to local business owners at a scale and price point that works for them,” said Matter GM of strategy and integrated marketing Jeff Tahnk.
 |
| Travis Kelce |
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, a sports representation division of 3 Arts Entertainment, which is majority-owned by Lionsgate, on the launch of TEKTA, a Name, Image and Likeness consulting and activation offering. Publicis Sports clients will gain access to a broad NIL network spanning 45,000 Division I student-athletes and 68 Power Four universities, with the ability to activate talent from the national to local level based on brand objectives, audience and market. The partnership will provide brands with an end-to-end consulting and activation capability that it says will generate 50 to 70 percent faster speed to market and one unified measurement framework. All activations will be executed in coordination with institutional compliance and applicable conference and state requirements. “Many of our clients are looking for ways to connect with customers at a local level, while also delivering scale and laddering up to a regional or national program. This has been challenging—if not impossible—to do from a brand standpoint, given all the pain points,” said Suzy Deering, CEO, Publicis Sports. “Through the unique combination of Publicis Sports, Travis and 3 Arts Sports, we’re able to bring our strengths together to do this seamlessly for our clients.”
 |
The 23rd Annual International Business Awards announces its Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award winners for 2026. More than 3,800 award nominees from organizations in 78 nations and territories were evaluated by more than 210 business professionals. Winners were selected based on the average scores assigned during the independent judging process. Otter PR won the Gold for PR Agency of the Year in North America, while MSL China won the same prize for Asia, LLYC was named Europe’s best, and Mexico City’s Addvox took home the award for Mexico, the Caribbean & Central and South America. Other PR agencies taking home Gold Stevies included Lee Andrews Group (community engagement experiential PR) and BGO (branded content campaign). The biggest overall winners were Viettel (Vietnam), which earned a total of 28 awards, and Globe Telecoms, Inc., which snagged nine Gold Stevies. Winners will be honored during a red-carpet awards event on Wednesday, October 28, at the Pullman Paris Montparnasse in Paris. The event will also recognize winners in this year's Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence, and the German Stevie Awards.
Praytell expands its Influence Department—which unites media, creators and social under one team... LRJ PR & Communications and Canopy Brand Group form an alliance that the firms say will bridge the operational divide between high-end brand design and strategic public relations... Twin Minds Media, Hispanic market specialist, increases the scope of its services in an effort to help brands build deeper connections with audiences through culture, storytelling, media and experiences. 
The People Platform, part of Stagwell's The Marketing Cloud, rebrands as Numetrix... Zapwater Communications has earned 17 finalist honors across two PR competitions: eight at the 68th Annual Golden Trumpet Awards, presented by the Publicity Club of Chicago, and nine at the 2026 PRSA Chicago Skyline Awards.. The Florida Public Relations Association presented 122 awards to individuals and teams from across the state at its 69th annual Golden Image and 3rd Annual Pinnacle Awards gala.
The Motion Agency acquires Vehr Communications, a Cincinnati-based strategic communications firm, effective Oct. 1... Lyceus Group, which specializes in financial services, is named a finalist for Public Relations Campaign at the 2026 ThinkAdvisor Luminaries Awards... IPSY, a curated beauty membership platform, launches IPSY Marketing Solutions, a full-funnel marketing and sales acceleration engine. 
Fire on the Hill, which has offices in London, Manchester, New York and Paris, is providing pro bono communications support to the Intergenerational Foundation, the UK's leading authority on intergenerational fairness... The PRSA-NY Big Apple Awards Gala on Sept. 17 will have Gio Benitez, co-anchor of the weekend edition of “Good Morning America” and ABC News transportation correspondent, serving as emcee... CasePR, a boutique litigation communications firm, launches in Portland, OR.
inFocus, which works with entertainment, media and innovation brands in the US Hispanic market and Latin America, expands into Mexico... Modern Currency Public Relations, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2027, launches an AI visibility & generative engine optimization practice... Adfactors PR, India’s largest reputation and critical issues advisory, acquires Australian communication consultancy SenateSHJ.
