Originally Released On

PR Newswire

Contact:
Kara Gelber
PR@stagwellglobal.com 

As the pre-eminent home for sport at Cannes Lions, SPORT BEACH will once again activate at Plage du Festival – this time as the official LIONS Sport Partner for 2025.

From redefining brand-building with athletes as creators to breaking barriers with bold strategies to captivate diverse audiences, this year’s programming will inspire meaningful conversations surrounding every facet of sport. In returning for its third year, SPORT BEACH will also welcome a new roster of the world’s best athletes.

“SPORT BEACH serves as the destination where athletes, brands, and marketers come to make deals and engage in conversations that matter,” shared Beth Sidhu, Stagwell’s Chief Brand and Communications Officer. “In 2025 we’ll build on the momentum from our first two years to deliver an unmatched experience for brands and athletes alike.”

Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS, added: “Stagwell’s SPORT BEACH has become a hub for bringing together brands, platforms, and athletes to explore the evolving trends shaping the business and culture of sports. We’re excited to welcome them as our official LIONS Sport Partner in 2025. This partnership has redefined the sports community at the Festival, providing insights, connections, and tools to harness creativity as a driver of business growth in this rapidly expanding sector.”

Stagwell invites brands, athletes, sports leagues, media platforms and other interested parties to reach out to SportBeach@stagwellglobal.com to get involved.

Introducing SPORT BEACH Clubhouses

Leading up to Cannes Lions 2025, SPORT BEACH will emerge across major industry and sporting events throughout the year in the form of SPORT BEACH Clubhouses. The Clubhouses will redefine how brands, athletes, and fans engage while serving as a platform to foster meaningful conversations around future partnerships and collaborations.

Stagwell will host Clubhouses at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, South by Southwest in Austin, and more moments to be announced. At each Clubhouse, a highly curated audience of senior decision makers will join the world’s best athletes, delivering a differentiated experience for all.

SPORT BEACH 2025 Programming

• Athletes as Creators: Redefining brand building, media platforms, and the rise of athlete-driven innovation. One feature of this track is the expanded second annual Seventh Estate Wine and Spirits Festival in partnership with 10-time NBA All-Star and entrepreneur Carmelo Anthony and long-time business partner Asani Swann’s global wine brand, VII(N) The Seventh Estate.
• Tech & Innovation Unleashed: Pushing boundaries with cutting-edge tech, revolutionizing how fans experience the game and beyond, including with Stagwell’s ARound, a shared augmented reality platform for teams and stadiums. On site, ARound will showcase a new interactive experience that unites fans and brands for an immersive and engaging event.
• Culture & Community Reimagined: Amplifying voices and opening the door for meaningful conversations surrounding the sports community, with the purpose of fostering lasting connections — on and off the court.
• Global Reach in Overdrive: Breaking barriers with bold strategies to captivate diverse audiences and inspire worldwide participation, as well as reaching across the globe in partnership with NBCUniversal.
• Resilience & Wellness Redefined: Mastering the art of grit and growth—lessons from athletes on thriving, sustaining, and excelling at the highest level.

2025 Athlete Partners

• Carmelo Anthony (basketball) – 10-time NBA All–Star, entrepreneur and philanthropist Carmelo Anthony has led a storied career as a three-time Olympic gold medalist and number nine on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Anthony’s incredible career has continued to pave the way for his many other business ventures and philanthropic efforts including his wine brand VII(N) The Seventh Estate, production company Creative 7, lifestyle brand STAYME7O, as well as his work as the co–founder of The Social Change Fund, which aims to support and invest in critical and timely issues that impact the Black community. Most recently, Anthony was announced as a first-time nominee for the Class of 2025 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
• Sue Bird (basketball) – A WNBA legend and decorated athlete, Bird has captured five Olympic Gold Medals, four World Championship Gold Medals, two NCAA Championships, four WNBA Championships, and is a 13x WNBA All–Star. Since her retirement in 2022, Sue has quickly established herself as a true trailblazer as a former athlete segueing into the mainstream media business with an unparalleled perspective. She is a co-founder of the women’s sports media commerce company Togethxr; co-founder of the production company, A Touch More, with fiancé and soccer legend Megan Rapinoe; co-owner of the Seattle Storm and earlier this year, Megan and Sue re-launched their podcast A Touch More: The Podcast. Bird is an outspoken and visible activist advocating for Black Lives, LGBTQ+ rights, equality, health, and wellness and expanding opportunities for girls and all marginalized people.
• Tara Davis-Woodhall (track and field) – Tara Davis-Woodhall is the reigning Olympic Gold Medalist in the long jump and has remained undefeated for the past two years. She is a two-time Olympian, ranked #1 in the world, and has claimed the titles of 2024 World Champion, 2023 and 2024 US National Champion. Known as “America’s Cowgirl,” Tara’s iconic cowboy hats, boots, and infectious personality have made her a fan favorite both on and off the field. She is also the assistant track coach at Kansas State. As a former NCAA Division 1 athlete at the University of Texas, Tara became a four-time All-American, shattered two NCAA records, and earned the title of double-record breaker in the same week.
• DeAndre Hopkins (football) – DeAndre Hopkins is an NFL All-Pro wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs. Drafted 27th overall in 2013, Hopkins’ remarkable play has earned him five Pro Bowl selections and five All-Pro honors, three of which were consecutive First Team All-Pro awards. Off the field, DeAndre is renowned for his impeccable sense of fashion, entrepreneurial ventures, and philanthropic initiatives. He’s been featured on Sports Illustrated’s Fashionable 50 list for two consecutive years and nominated for Forbes 30 under 30. Additionally, he’s a vocal advocate for domestic violence victims, serving on the board of his mother’s foundation, S.M.O.O.O.T.H., which empowers women affected by domestic violence, offering them a second chance at life.
• Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson (football) – Famously known for changing his last name to Ochocinco in 2006, Chad Johnson was drafted 36th overall in the 2001 NFL draft. Fans worldwide quickly embraced his vibrant personality and playmaking ability, making him one of the most prominent figures in sports. Throughout his 11 year NFL career, he earned six Pro-Bowl selections, three All-Pro honors and was inducted into the Cincinnati Bengals’ Ring of Honor in 2023. On the heels of his playing career, Johnson transitioned into entertainment. He served as a lead analyst for Fox Sports during the 2022 World Cup, and is currently in his second season as a co-host for ‘Inside the NFL’ on the CW. He has also partnered with Shannon Sharpe to create Nightcap, a podcast that has taken over the sports media landscape. Nightcap won a Webby Award for the Best Sports Podcast.
• Flau’jae Johnson (basketball) – Flau’jae Johnson is breaking boundaries as both a standout athlete and a talented artist. A key player in LSU’s 2023 national championship-winning women’s basketball team, she’s equally commanding in the music world as a rapper with a distribution deal under Jay Z’s Roc Nation. Talent and drive are in her DNA; her music career gained momentum with unforgettable appearances on Jermaine Dupri’s “The Rap Game” and season 13 of “America’s Got Talent,” where she became the first rapper to earn the coveted Golden Buzzer. In 2024, Flau’jae was recognized as one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 and named a Top Creator for 2024-2025, solidifying her impact both on and off the court. With over 4 million followers across platforms, her dedicated online community, The Flauk, has amassed over 7 million YouTube views and continues to grow. Flau’jae is a powerhouse of talent and ambition, redefining what it means to excel in multiple arenas with style, passion, and authenticity.
• Kyle Kuzma (basketball) – NBA Champion Kyle Kuzma has established himself not only as one of the most talented basketball players in the world, but also as a strategic entrepreneur, visionary philanthropist, and cultural icon. From his standout performances on the court to his innovative ventures across business, fashion and art, Kuzma exemplifies a bold commitment to authentic self-expression and a passion for shaping new approaches and perspectives. Through the Kyle Kuzma Family Foundation, he helps drive initiatives that empower families and uplift his communities, reflecting his dedication to creating a meaningful and lasting impact beyond the game.
• Noah Lyles (track and field) – Noah Lyles earned the title of ‘fastest man in the world’ with his victory in the Men’s 100 meters at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Lyles is also a six-time world champion and is the American record-holder at 200 meters. Off the track, Lyles is a mental health advocate and was the star of his own docu-series on Peacock TV in 2023, “Untitled: The Noah Lyles Project.” He is also the star of the Netflix series Sprint, now in its second season. Noah is currently working with several new projects to take his sport to a wider audience and introduce fashion and his other lifestyle interests.
• Candace Parker (basketball) – Candace Parker is the most accredited women’s basketball player of all time. Parker has been known for her ability to win at all levels. This knack for shattering glass ceilings became prevalent in the early 2000s in her hometown of Naperville, Chicago. Since then, Parker’s notoriety has only grown, from bringing legendary Coach Pat Summitt her final two national championships at Tennessee to being the first WNBA player to appear on the cover of NBA 2K as the central athlete of the 25th Anniversary Special Edition. Both on and off the court, Parker has built a legacy that she hopes will inspire others to break through glass ceilings. Parker is the founder of Baby Hair Productions, an athlete advisor of Avenue Capital, and the first-ever President of Adidas Women’s Basketball. As a mother and an empowered Black woman, Parker has developed into a bold, insightful, and inspiring thought leader who is passionate about the importance of women’s rights, voters’ rights, and Black Lives Matter.
• Megan Rapinoe (soccer) – 2X World Cup Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Megan Rapinoe is a fan favorite and soccer legend. A vocal leader in every aspect of her life, Rapinoe helped lead the USWNT to the 2019 Women’s World Cup Championship scoring some of the biggest goals of the tournament. Rapinoe is a New York Times’ Best-Selling author, Time100’s Most Influential People and Presidential Medal of Freedom award recipient. At the end of 2022, Megan and her fiancé and basketball icon, Sue Bird, launched A Touch More, a production company focused on promoting narratives around revolutionaries who move culture forward; and earlier this year Megan and Sue re-launched their podcast A Touch More: The Podcast, which quickly garnered a large following for its honest and wide-ranging conversations. Megan is renowned for her advocacy in LGBTQ+ rights, racial equality and gender equity.
• Hunter Woodhall (track and field) – Hunter Woodhall is a three-time Paralympian and 2024 Gold Medalist, redefining what it means to be an athlete and entrepreneur. Hunter has won 5x Paralympic Medals and holds the American record for the 100m and 400m (T62). Born with fibular hemimelia, Hunter had both legs amputated below the knees at 11 months old. Defying all odds, he became the first double amputee to earn an NCAA Division 1 scholarship, competing for the University of Arkansas and becoming a four-time All-American.

2025 Program Hosts

Program hosts support the growth and evolution of SPORT BEACH, serving as collaborators and moderators who connect brands and athletes while shaping pivotal conversations in sports and marketing.

• Paul Rabil – Paul Rabil, author of The Way of the Champion and widely regarded as one of the greatest lacrosse players of all time, transitioned from his legendary playing career to co-found the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) and Women’s Lacrosse League (WLL) alongside his brother Mike. Together, they built a groundbreaking league, secured a broadcast partnership with Disney and ESPN, helped lead lacrosse back into the Olympics, and forged key sponsorships with brands like Ticketmaster, Lexus, Loreal, Cash App, Adidas, BOSE, Progressive, Champion, Gatorade, and Jagermeister, among others. Available on Disney+ and Hulu, Rabil executive produced Fate of a Sport, an ESPN documentary chronicling the creation and rise of the PLL. A proud graduate of Johns Hopkins University, Paul Rabil is an award-winning host of the Suiting Up Podcast and founder of the Paul Rabil Foundation, which empowers children with learning differences through the transformative power of sports.
• Taylor Rooks – Emmy nominated sports broadcaster, journalist, and cultural icon, Taylor Rooks is an acclaimed interviewer whose probing questions give rise to some of today’s most pressing discussions beyond the game. Rooks is known most prominently for her work as a Feature Reporter for TNT Sports, sideline reporter for NBA on TNT and the resident Feature Reporter for Amazon’s Thursday Night Football. Praised in a profile by the New York Times, “Taylor Rooks gets the interviews that go viral,” Rooks shares meaningful insights about succeeding in her industry by focusing on making connections and honoring the humanity of the players, as well as understanding the larger context behind the game. For the success of her work, Rooks has been featured in Sports Illustrated: “100 Influential Black Women in Sports,” Esquire has named her “the most in-demand sideline reporter across the NBA and NFL,” and she is considered one of the most influential figures in sports media today.

2025 Brand Partners

• Ad Results Media (ARM) is the leading agency empowering brands to engage audiences through the power of audio creators. With 20+ years of experience across radio, podcasts, streaming audio and YouTube, including placing the very first podcast ad in 2010, ARM now stands among the world’s largest buyers of podcast media. ARM leverages its expertise and trusted, actionable intelligence across platforms to connect brands—such as MolsonCoors, BetterHelp, FanDuel, Wayfair and ZipRecruiter—with consumers. ARM delivers value and impact through unparalleled industry knowledge and relationships to drive results for brands and agencies. To learn more about ARM, visit adresultsmedia.com.
• The Athletic, a returning partner, founded in 2016 and acquired by The New York Times in 2022, is the world’s leading direct-to-consumer digital sports media company committed to elevated sports storytelling. The Athletic has the world’s largest sports newsroom, with 500 full-time employees covering more than 250 professional sports and collegiate teams in the US and globally. Through a personalized subscriber experience built around the teams and leagues that fans follow, The Athletic delivers content and insight across a range of formats from written to audio, video and social – delivering powerful stories and smart analysis that bring sports fans closer to the heart of the game. From breaking news and live commentary to deeply reported long reads and exclusive interviews, subscribers rely on The Athletic for every sports story that matters.
• Channel Factory, a returning partner, is a global technology and data platform that optimizes business performance and enhances brand reputation ethical and effective contextual targeting. Utilizing proprietary AI and brand suitability technologies, Channel Factory ensures ads are placed on brand-safe, contextually relevant content across YouTube, CTV platforms, and social media, including Meta and TikTok. Through its conscious media planning, Channel Factory is committed to promoting sustainability, diversity, and positive content, helping brands achieve their goals while fostering a healthier digital ecosystem. Channel Factory has a presence in 31 countries across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and ANZ, providing advertisers with IAB standard category lists and customized content options in 49+ languages.
• The Chicago Bulls, a returning partner, is a global sports and entertainment organization that is part of the National Basketball Association. Founded in 1966, the Bulls have won six NBA championships and become an iconic brand with a worldwide fan base, including more than 45 million followers across multiple social media platforms. The Bulls take pride in championing inclusivity within the workplace and have a longstanding history of giving back to underserved communities across Chicago.
• Clio Sports, which celebrates creativity in sports advertising and marketing around the world, returns as a partner this year. Clio Sports will host an exclusive Awards Dinner to recognize a select group of athletes with Clio Sports Honorary Awards, a special recognition given to athletes who are shaping sports culture through ingenuity and innovation. Clio Sports Honorary Awards were awarded to Carmelo Anthony at SPORT BEACH 2023 and to Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe, Mikaela Shiffrin and Shawn White at SPORT BEACH 2024.
• Microsoft Advertising wants to make delivering hyper-personalized advertising powered by generative AI simple. Their end-to-end advertising solutions include AI-powered tools for buying and selling advertising against any objective and format. Across Copilot, Bing, MSN, Outlook.com, Xbox, Edge, and more, they’re reimagining advertising for the future with a goal is to create hyper-personalized connections between brands and consumers throughout their decision journey—whether they’re watching, browsing, playing, or shopping. With generative AI, Microsoft Advertising empowers publishers and advertisers to increase engagement, simplify their work, and achieve better results.
• NBCUniversal returns as the exclusive Platinum Media Partner of SPORT BEACH. As one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies, NBCUniversal creates worldclass content that is distributed across its portfolio of film, television and streaming, and brought to life in its theme parks. A subsidiary of Comcast Corporation, NBCUniversal owns and operates an expansive portfolio of news, entertainment, film, streaming, and television brands, and will be home to the biggest sporting events over the next two years, including the Milan Cortina Olympic Winter Games, Super Bowl LX, the return of the NBA and WNBA and the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Telemundo.
• Scripps Sports, a returning partner, serves professional and college sports leagues, conferences and teams with local market depth and national broadcast reach so they have the ability to reach up to 100% of their fan bases. Scripps Sports currently has partnerships with the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the National Hockey League’s (NHL) 2024 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, the 2023 Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights, NHL’s new Utah Hockey Club, and the NCAA’s Big Sky Conference. Scripps Sports is a division of The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP), a Fortune 1000 American media company.
• VII(N) The Seventh Estate, the global wine estate brand founded by 10X NBA All-Star and entrepreneur, Carmelo Anthony, and his longtime business partner, Asani Swann, returns via an expanded partnership. Carmelo and Asani approached the launch of VII(N) The Seventh Estate with the utmost sincerity and respect for wine both as an art form and as an industry. The wines within VII(N) invoke the heritage of the old world while committing to modern philosophies of winemaking for the next generation of wine lovers. Anthony and Swann are constantly breaking barriers in an effort to achieve equal representation across all sectors of the Black community, and with this venture, they aim to expand the presence of people of color within the wine space. Swann is a seasoned sports business executive, vintner, and producer with over 20 years of experience partnering with global brands in entertainment, sports, and wine.

Learn about Cannes Lions:
LIONS, the Home of Creativity, is the destination for those in the business of creativity. As the definitive benchmark of creative excellence and with unparalleled access to insight on how it works, LIONS provides those on the journey to creative excellence all they need, at whatever stage they are at and wherever they are. The annual five-day Festival, Cannes Lions, is the meeting place for the global creative marketing community and a celebration of the world’s most excellent and effective work. For more information about how to get involved at Cannes Lions, please reach out to partnerships@canneslions.com.

Stagwell
Stagwell is the challenger holding company built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our specialists in 35+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for our clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.    

Contact:
Kara Gelber
PR@stagwellglobal.com 

Originally Released On

PR Newswire

Contact:

Ben Allanson ir@stagwellglobal.com 

NEW YORK, Jan. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), the challenger network built to transform marketing, today announced Chairman and CEO Mark Penn will attend the 27^th Annual Needham Growth Conference in New York City.

Penn will participate in a fireside chat on January 15, 2025, at 12:45 p.m. ET. Penn will also be available for 1×1 meetings with investors.

The fireside chat will be webcast and can be accessed here. The recording will be available for 90 days following the event.

Visit this page to view upcoming investor events and programming from Stagwell. Reach out to ir@stagwellglobal.com with questions.

About Stagwell 
Stagwell is the challenger holding company built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our specialists in 35+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for our clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com. 

IR Contact
Ben Allanson
ir@stagwellglobal.com

Originally Released On

PR Newswire

Contact:

Shannon Pruitt
Stagwell Brand Performance Network (BxP)
shannon.pruitt@bxpnetwork.com

The new partnership creates the most advanced audio marketing capability within a global marketing network by allowing any Stagwell agency, including Assembly, Assembly Digital Commerce, Business Traveller Media, CPB Group LATAM, Forsman & Bodenfors, INK-Media, Goodstuff, Locaria, Multiview and Vitro, to seamlessly tap into ARM’s industry-leading intelligence, specialized services, expansive network of audio and creator partners, and 360-degree solutions spanning podcast, streaming, radio, YouTube, and extensions across live experiences and social. It builds on ARM’s track record for delivering audio media strategy, creative, planning and buying for leading brands including Molson Coors, BetterHelp, ZipRecruiter and Liquid Death.

“Our media network partners are advancing Stagwell clients into the future, and ARM brings deep specialization and unique advantages in harnessing the power and impact of the audio landscape,” said Jon Schaaf, Global Chief Investment Officer, Stagwell Brand Performance Network. “This industry-first collaboration will help us challenge legacy investment models, educate marketers and elevate the untapped power of audio in the consumer journey.”

According to Edison Research, 135 million people now listen to a podcast monthly, with IAB reporting a large share of Gen Z and Millennials now spend more time with audio content than streaming TV. With audio consumption representing 25 percent of ad-supported media time but only eight percent of advertiser budgets, more marketers stand to benefit from right-sizing their media mix, based on a newly released report from WARC Advisory and Audacy.

“Audio and audio-first creators have earned even more relevance amidst ongoing mass media fragmentation, offering brands mass reach, deep, authentic audience engagement and performance unparalleled by other channels,” said Jordan Fox, CEO of ARM. “Stagwell is a powerhouse in building agile partnerships and specialized solutions that take brands into the next frontiers of marketing innovation, and together we are elevating audio as a potent vehicle of business and cultural impact.”

About ARM
Ad Results Media (ARM) is the leading agency empowering brands to engage audiences through the power of audio creators. With 20+ years of experience across radio, podcasts, streaming audio and YouTube, including placing the very first podcast ad in 2010, ARM now stands among the world’s largest buyers of podcast media. ARM leverages its expertise and trusted, actionable intelligence across platforms to connect brands—such as MolsonCoors, BetterHelp, FanDuel, Wayfair and ZipRecruiter—with consumers. ARM delivers value and impact through unparalleled industry knowledge and relationships to drive results for brands and agencies. To learn more about ARM, visit adresultsmedia.com.

About Stagwell Brand Performance Network
The Brand Performance Network (BxP) is a collection of Stagwell agencies providing B2B and B2C marketers with connected global solutions in data-driven and technology-enabled creative, media, commerce and B2B Publishing. BxP has over 5,000 experts across 60 offices in 20 countries, collectively handling over $6 billion in media. Learn more at https://www.bxpnetwork.com

About Stagwell
Stagwell is the challenger holding company built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our specialists in 35+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for our clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

Contact
Shannon Pruitt
Stagwell Brand Performance Network (BxP)
shannon.pruitt@bxpnetwork.com

Originally Released On

PR Newswire

Contact:

Kara Gelber  
Stagwell   
pr@stagwellglobal.com 

Kenneth Hein
Code and Theory 
kenneth.hein@codeandtheory.com 

With 15 years of expertise in digital strategy, products, content and innovation, Create. Group provides digital strategies that empower clients such as the Department of Culture & Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT), Dubai Department of Economy (DET) and Tourism, Sony Pictures, Volkswagen Middle East, COP29, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and NEOM. Create. Group is headquartered in the UAE with additional offices in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

This deal comes as Stagwell cements its presence in MENA with recent acquisitions of Consulum and LEADERS, and on the heels of Create. Group winning Campaign’s Middle East Digital Agency of the Year in 2022, 2023 and 2024, Campaign’s Middle East Independent Agency of the Year 2023 and Adweek’s Top 100 Fastest Growing Agencies in 2022 and 2023.  Create. Group joins Stagwell’s Code and Theory Network alongside their flagship namesake agency who was named Ad Age Business Transformation Agency of the Year in 2024 for leading transformation through technology. Code and Theory Network is the first of its kind with a balance of 50% creative and 50% engineers at scale.

“As a digital leader in the region, Create. Group is a strong addition for Stagwell in the Middle East as we pursue global digital transformation for our clients. Create. Group and the Code and Theory Network share the same digital-led vision and together, we’re the right size to produce quality, game-changing work that will drive growth at-scale for brands,” shared Chairman and CEO of Stagwell Mark Penn.

Dan Gardner, Founder and Executive Chairman of Stagwell’s Code and Theory Network added, “Create. Group is at the epicenter of a powerful emerging market with huge ambitions. The projects in the Middle East are some of the biggest projects in the world. And Create. Group excels at delivering them having just won its third digital agency of the year award. They will now be able to expand their capabilities within Code and Theory Network to deliver best-in-class results locally and beyond.”

“Joining the Code and Theory and wider Stagwell network allows us to access world-class talent, cutting-edge technology, and a truly global footprint. This step fuels our growth, empowers our teams, and ensures we’re ideally positioned to help deliver for the region’s most ambitious brands,” states Tom Otton, Founder and CEO of Create. Group.

Otton will continue to lead Create. Group and will be integrated into Stagwell’s Code and Theory Network, now boasting 2,000 team members worldwide, under Dan Gardner and CEO Michael Treff’s leadership.

The acquisition comes as Stagwell expands its global footprint and invests further in strategy and communications at the forefront of digital transformation. Create. Group is Stagwell’s eleventh acquisition of 2024, following UNICEPTA (Germany), Consulum (MENA), LEADERS (MENA), Business Traveller (Global), BERA (U.S.), Luxine Relations Publiques (Canada), PROS (Brazil), What’s Next Partners (France), Sidekick (U.K.) and Team Epiphany (U.S.).

About Stagwell 
Stagwell is the challenger holding company built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our specialists in 35+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for our clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

About Code and Theory Network
Code and Theory Network is the only network with a balance of 50% creative and 50% engineers at scale. The technology-first group within Stagwell is built to partner with businesses to navigate the complexity of changing consumer behaviors, emerging technologies and AI. With a global footprint and the capabilities to work across the entire consumer journey, we crave the hardest problems to solve. The network includes the flagship agency Code and Theory as well as Kettle, Instrument, Left Field Labs, Truelogic, Rhythm, and Mediacurrent. Code and Theory clients include Amazon, JPMorganChase, Microsoft, NBC, NFL and Yeti. For more, visit codeandtheory.com.
 
About Create. Group
Create. Group is the Middle East’s leading strategic digital communications group, with a team of 150+ across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The group consists of Create., the strategic digital communications agency, and Create. Production, the content production studio, under one shared mission: to partner with nation builders and visionary brands to drive positive cultural and economic transformation. Together, they deliver award-winning digital strategy, products, content, and innovation through a culture focused on driving impact with award-winning quality, at speed.  For more information visit www.creategroup.me or contact tala.mukaddam@creategroup.me.

Contacts: 
Kara Gelber  
Stagwell   
pr@stagwellglobal.com

Kenneth Hein
Code and Theory 
kenneth.hein@codeandtheory.com

Originally Released On

PR Newswire

Contact:

Kara Gelber

Stagwell

pr@stagwellglobal.com 

Stephanie Hernandez

PRophet Comms Tech

v-stephanie.hernandez@prprophet.ai

With 30 years of expertise in data-driven insights, UNICEPTA provides comprehensive monitoring and data analytics that empower Fortune Global 500 companies. Spanning eight countries and four continents, UNICEPTA is headquartered in Cologne with additional offices in Berlin, London, Paris, São Paulo, Shanghai, Washington and Zurich.

This deal comes on the heels of LEADERS and InfluencerMarketing.AI joining PRophet in July and UNICEPTA’s UK and German teams winning five Gold Awards and several Silver and Bronze awards at the AMEC Communication Effectiveness Awards in London on November 7.

“UNICEPTA’s best-in-class tools work in unison with Stagwell Marketing Cloud’s suite of data-driven solutions to help communicators cut through the complex media landscape and noise of misinformation that exists today,” shared Chairman and CEO of Stagwell Mark Penn. “Together, our AI-enabled offerings simplify complicated data, empowering clients to act quickly, confidently and protect their reputation.”

Aaron Kwittken, Founder and CEO of Stagwell’s PRophet Comms Tech Suite, shared, “This is a game-changer for the burgeoning, nine-billion-dollar comms tech industry, enabling PRophet to compete at scale and dethrone stodgy old-school competitors everyone loves to hate. UNICEPTA will supercharge our global suite of AI and human powered software and services, adding sophisticated always-on reputation management and campaign tracking capabilities, joining our award-winning journalist and influencer discovery, management and content generation platforms.”

“With decades of remarkable growth and a client base that includes some of the world’s largest corporations and institutions, UNICEPTA aligns seamlessly with Stagwell and PRophet’s growth ambitions,” states Sebastian Rohwer, Co-CEO of UNICEPTA.

Alexander Peinemann, Co-CEO of UNICEPTA, added, “This collaboration allows us to accelerate our development in advanced analytics and predictive insights, especially in North America – an essential step in helping our clients succeed in today’s interconnected landscape.” 

Rohwer and Peinemann will continue to lead UNICEPTA and will be integrated in Stagwell’s PRophet Comms Tech unit, now boasting more than 500+ team members worldwide, under Kwittken’s leadership.

The acquisition comes as Stagwell expands its global footprint and invests further in AI-enabled solutions at the forefront of digital marketing. UNICEPTA is Stagwell’s tenth acquisition of 2024, following Consulum (MENA), LEADERS (Israel), Business Traveller (Global), BERA (U.S.), Luxine Relations Publiques (Canada), PROS (Brazil), What’s Next Partners (France), Sidekick (U.K.) and Team Epiphany (U.S.).

About Stagwell

Stagwell is the challenger holding company built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our specialists in 35+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for our clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

About PRophet
PRophet is an award-winning suite of essential, AI-powered comms tech SaaS tools and services purpose-built to empower modern communicators to surface and engage with high-authority journalists and leading influencers. PRophet was awarded PRovoke Media’s Innovation SABRE in 2023 and 2024, a 2024 Webby Award, and was included in PR News’ 2024 Tech Hotlist. The PR solution creates and tests “mediable” PR content to predict journalist interest and sentiment. The influencer solution – influencermarketing.ai — combines influencer discovery, analytics, brand safety and tracking technologies to inform and manage influencer marketing campaigns. PRophet is part of the Stagwell Marketing Cloud (SMC), a suite of data-driven SaaS solutions built for the modern marketer. Visit prprophet.ai to learn more.

About UNICEPTA
UNICEPTA is a global provider of media & marketing intelligence. With AI-driven technology and more than 500 analysis and monitoring experts, UNICEPTA analyzes globally available content from social media, online, print, TV, radio, and numerous other data sources – in real-time and on demand. UNICEPTA enables companies to listen better and take appropriate actions. The analysis and insights serve as basis for decision-making in corporate management, communication, and marketing for globally operating and industry-leading companies and organizations. UNICEPTA’s offices are located in Berlin, Cologne (headquarters), London, Shanghai, Washington DC, and Zurich.

Contacts:
Kara Gelber
Stagwell 
pr@stagwellglobal.com

Stephanie Hernandez
PRophet Comms Tech
v-stephanie.hernandez@prprophet.ai

By: Ray Day

CONTACT:

Ray Day
ray.day@stagwellglobal.com 

We wanted to share our latest consumer and business insights, based on research from Stagwell. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:

‘TIS THE SEASON TO DECK THE OUTDOORS

Holiday cheer influences where Americans want to live, based on new Harris Poll research with Opendoor.

• 20% of families with children would consider selling if their neighborhood didn’t partake in holiday decorations.
• 26% also would consider selling their home if their HOA was too strict and limited holiday decorations.
• Homeowners’ holiday pet peeve: Parking. One third would consider selling if their neighbor’s holiday guests parked all over the street and in front of their house.
• 20% would think about selling if their neighbor had too many parties during the holiday season.
• 28% of homeowners would consider selling if their neighbor blasted holiday music too loud – or too early in the season.
• See also: Generation Spend: Why Gen Z is Investing More in Holiday Joy

SOBER FOR THE SEASON

While most Americans like to drink during the holidays, the trend toward non-alcoholic beverages continues to grow, based on Harris Poll data with Instacart.

• 53% say they drink during the holidays.
• 8% opt for non-alcoholic beer or wine with dinner, like at Thanksgiving last week.
• During the last five years, orders for non-alcoholic drinks spiked 157%.

TARIFF TREPIDATION

What do Americans think about all tariffs ahead of the next inauguration? Our Harris Poll research with The Guardian shows:

• 78% feel confident they understand tariffs.
• Yet only 48% correctly know that American companies pay the tariff price.
• 47% of Republicans and 32% of Democrats incorrectly said foreign countries pay.
• 69% of Americans think tariffs on imports will lead to higher prices.
• 70% worry tariffs will affect what they can afford.
• 76% believe companies will pass along the cost of tariffs to consumers.
• 44% are planning tariff-free purchases ahead of President-elect Trump’s inauguration.
• 62% predict tariffs will force them to adjust their 2025 financial plans.

NEARLY ALL YOUNG PEOPLE USE AI AT WORK

Most Gen Z and Millennial workers already are using artificial intelligence tools in one capacity or another at work, based on our Harris Poll research with Google Workspace.

• 82% of young adults in leadership positions say they leverage AI in their work.
• 93% of Gen Z and 79% of Millennials use two or more AI tools each week.
• Most use AI to start a task that feels overwhelming, improve their writing or to take notes.
• 86% believe AI can help leaders become better managers.
• 47% say it helps enhance communication, improves problem-solving and facilitates better relationships.

ICYMI:

In case you missed it, check out the thought-leadership and happenings around Stagwell making news:

• A new survey of small-business owners reveals their biggest challenges and rewards.
• Theft and crime are driving retail workers to look for new roles
• Unlocking the future of series: four TV trends to watch in 2025
• America’s new 1%: Gen Z and Millennial DINKs spending big on vacations and takeout, survey finds
• Ray Day Assumes Role of Executive Chairman at Allison Worldwide

Originally Released On

PR Newswire

Contact:

Madison Wick

pr@stagwellglobal.com 

By mapping consumer visits to points of interest and sequencing them over time, The People Platform offers clients including, National Cinemedia, Screenvision Media, Gas Station TV, Best Buy and more a comprehensive understanding of consumer behavior in near-real time. It then allows companies to communicate with specific groups of consumers to receive additional direct responses, further enriching the brand-customer connection.

“The People Platform is uniquely positioned in that no other company is using mobile location and consumer response together to bring those insights and data to the forefront for clients,” said Brady. “We are strategically focused on an untapped ecosystem that plays a critical role in the consumer journey, and I’m proud to lead the team in driving growth both in the U.S. and globally.”

Brady has over 20 years of experience in the retail media industry. Prior to his roles as President and Chief Revenue Officer at The People Platform, Brady held multiple leadership positions at Nielsen including Vice President of Client Solutions On-Location and Vice President of Sales, TV/Cable and Digital Out of Home.

“The People Platform is a prime example of how Stagwell Marketing Cloud’s innovative suite of solutions is transforming decision-making for today’s modern marketers,” said Elspeth Rollert, CEO of Stagwell Marketing Cloud. “George has long been a trailblazer in delivering game-changing insights to brands, and we’re thrilled to support the next chapter of his visionary leadership as he continues to drive breakthrough innovation for our clients.”

About The People Platform
The People Platform is transforming how brands understand and connect with consumers. Its cloud-based platform combines mobile intelligence with proximity-based location and geo-spatial mapping technology, coupled with consumer surveys, and other third-party data, to provide mobility insights, location intelligence and transactional, currency-level audience measurement services for cinema, digital out-of-home (DOOH), retail media networks, and more. The People Platform’s suite of solutions empowers brands to better understand the consumer journey by observing foot traffic trends and quantifying the consumer experience, resulting in insights that fuel smarter, more effective strategies in a rapidly changing media landscape.

About Stagwell Marketing Cloud
Stagwell Marketing Cloud (SMC) is a suite of data-driven SaaS solutions built for the modern marketer. Born out of Stagwell’s (NASDAQ: STGW) award-winning network that delivers scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, SMC empowers brands to drive measurable business impact through intuitive solutions enriched with proprietary, actionable data. SMC’s solutions harness advanced technology—generative and predictive AI, machine learning, augmented reality, and more—to revolutionize market research, communications, and media strategies for global brands. Get your head in the cloud at  www.stagwellmarketingcloud.com.

Contact
Madison Wick
PR@StagwellGlobal.com 

Originally Released On

PR Newswire

Contact:

Beth Sidhu

pr@stagwellglobal.com 

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Effective today, Ray Day becomes Allison Worldwide executive chairman while continuing his role as Stagwell vice chair. Allison Worldwide Chairman Scott Allison and Vice Chair Andy Hardie-Brown, co-founders of the award-winning global integrated marketing and communications agency, are stepping down from their roles and moving to an advisor capacity.

Day has more than three decades of experience as a chief communications officer for leading communications teams, brands and agencies, including IBM and Ford Motor Company. He joined Stagwell in 2020.

Allison and Hardie-Brown launched Allison+Partners in September 2001, and the agency re-branded as Allison Worldwide in 2023, underscoring its transformation from its origins as a public relations firm focused on earned media to a modern integrated marketing and communications powerhouse with a global network of 52 offices.

“I believe in a bright future for the agency’s next chapter under Ray’s leadership. As a results-oriented leader, Ray brings a dynamic approach to business and financial strategies that drive top-and bottom-line growth,” said Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO of Stagwell. “I thank Scott and Andy for their two decades of leadership and commend their ability to turn Allison Worldwide into the award-winning agency it is today.”

“Our motto has always been to focus on doing great work and hire and retain amazing people,” Allison said. “Our model has stood the test of time, and we believe the company will continue to grow and thrive long after we’re gone. Andy and I have been very blessed and remain so grateful to our colleagues and clients that have supported us the past 23 years.”

Jonathan Heit, one of the original members of the Allison+Partners team, remains Allison Worldwide Global CEO, reporting to Ray Day. Together with its Global Board, Allison Worldwide’s next generation of leadership continues to act on a proven blueprint.

“From a concept we scribbled on a napkin in 2001 through an international expansion that began in 2013, Scott and I consider ourselves fortunate to have grown Allison into a global communications powerhouse with a footprint spanning five continents,” Hardie-Brown said. “With the incredible depth and passion of so many talented colleagues around the world, we are confident Allison will continue to expand globally, going from strength to strength, and will continue to be a great place to work.”

“I am honored to stand on the shoulders of industry giants Scott Allison and Andy Hardie-Brown and excited to begin working even more closely with the Allison Worldwide team to achieve our shared vision of global growth,” Day said. “Our priorities for growth are clear: a client-first culture centered on every client’s success; future-focused innovation and anticipation; and expanding our capability and expertise with a world-class team delivering world-class results.”

About Allison Worldwide
Allison is a global integrated marketing and communications consultancy dedicated to driving growth, innovation, and positive change for clients, colleagues, and communities. With a diverse range of expertise and a forward-looking mindset, Allison delivers game-changing results that make a lasting impact. Allison is owned by Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), one of the fastest growing and most influential marketing and communications networks in the world. Agency partners leverage Stagwell’s technology, data analytics, insights and strategic consulting solutions to drive measurable results and optimize return on marketing investment for more than 1,700 clients worldwide. Learn more at www.allisonworldwide.com.

About Stagwell
Stagwell is the challenger holding company built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our 10,000+ specialists in 30+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for our clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com. 

Contact:
Beth Sidhu
PR@stagwellglobal.com

Originally Released On

PR Newswire

Contact:

Ben Allanson ir@stagwellglobal.com 

NEW YORK, Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell Inc. (NASDAQ: STGW), the challenger network built to transform marketing, today announced its participation in several upcoming investor conferences throughout December 2024. 

• December 3: Wells Fargo TMT Summit – Stagwell management will participate in a fireside chat at 3pm PT and 1×1 meetings throughout the day in Los Angeles.
• December 4: UBS Global Technology Conference – Stagwell management will host 1×1 meetings throughout the day in Phoenix.
• December 9: UBS Global Media Conference — Stagwell management will host 1×1 meetings throughout the day in New York.

Visit this page to view upcoming investor events and programming from Stagwell. Reach out to ir@stagwellglobal.com with questions.

About Stagwell
Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients.  www.stagwellglobal.com.

IR Contact:
Ben Allanson
ir@stagwellglobal.com   

Originally Released On

PR Newswire

Contact:

Maggie Axford

pr@stagwellglobal.com

A deeper look at each of the new affiliate’s capabilities:

Blue Horse – Malaysia

Blue Horse Digital Marketing is a technology-led, highly personal answer to the ever-growing performance marketing needs of Southeast Asia. Blue Horse Digital Marketing provides specialized solutions that assist in maximizing sustainable profitability while automating day-to-day operations to a wide variety of consumer industries, including Wellness Services, Consumer Goods, and E-commerce centered activities on marketplace platforms, i.e. Shopee, Lazada, TikTok Shop, etc.

“Blue Horse Digital Marketing thrives on the leanness of our operations to provide highly personal services in a massively growing digital economy. We are very excited to be a Stagwell affiliate partner and hope to leverage on their support towards creating more effective and holistic offerings to our current and potential clientele,” said Nicholas Wong, Co-Founder and Director of Blue Horse.

DashDigital – South Africa

DashDigital is a specialized design studio that helps brands connect with their audience, using in-depth research, rigorous strategy, well-built technology and responsive design. DashDigital serves a global client base, building beautiful digital products and impactful web experiences for brands, organizations and agencies alike.

“At DashDigital, collaboration is everything, so the opportunity to join Stagwell’s affiliate program is huge for us,” says Rogan Jansen, co-founder and creative director at DashDigital. “We can’t wait to harness the immense resources and possibilities the partnership will afford us, continuing on our mission to push the boundaries of design and encourage our clients to do the same.”  

About Stagwell

Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) is the network created to transform marketing. We deliver creative performance at scale for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with cutting-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our more than 13,000 experts in more than 34 countries are united under a single purpose: to generate effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

Media contact:

Maggie Axford
PR@stagwellglobal.com