“After spending more than 20 years working in both agency and brand-side roles, I’ve come to understand the headache marketers face when brand and performance marketing operate in silos. The Brand Performance Network flips the script by treating brand and performance as a single, unified action,” said Shannon Pruitt.

After joining Stagwell in 2020, Shannon was elevated to Global Chief Content & Partnership Innovation Officer of BxP in 2021. In this role, Shannon spearheaded partnerships with emerging platforms like Roblox and Audio, while collaborating with BxP agencies and Stagwell on key business initiatives. In 2023, Shannon launched Partners for Progress, Assembly’s Global Diversity & Inclusion initiative, and consolidated Assembly Global’s ESG efforts into Assembly Impact.

Prior to joining Stagwell, Shannon was the Chief Marketing Officer of The Honest Company and the co-founder and CEO of Dentsu’s The Story Lab, amassing experience across Fortune 100 brands including GM, XBox, P&G, Fox, Microsoft, Mondelez, MasterCard and Macy’s. Shannon has also led creative, marketing and business development teams at entertainment powerhouses 19 Entertainment, Mark Burnett Productions, Warner Bros and Octagon. Throughout this time, she was responsible for the strategy and activation of MasterCard’s FIFA World Cup, Major League Baseball, and National Football League sponsorships.

“Given Shannon’s deep background in brand storytelling, partnerships, content creation, and omnichannel campaigns, she is the ideal person to drive forward the Brand Performance Network’s mission. Shannon understands the necessity for connected solutions across creative, media and commerce and can help us tell the story for brands seeking a modern alternative to the legacy players,” said James Townsend, CEO of the Brand Performance Network.

“Shannon is also deeply passionate about sustainable growth and impact for brands. We know that DEI and environmental sustainability are important not only to consumers but to clients who have also made shareholder and business commitments in these areas. Shannon will continue to serve as a trusted advisor to clients defining their path forward,” Townsend added.

To inquire about partnering with the Brand Performance Network, please contact hello@bxpnetwork.com. 

About Brand Performance Network
The Brand Performance Network (BxP) is a collection of top Stagwell agencies providing B2B and B2C marketers with connected global solutions in creative, media, commerce, data, and technology. BxP has over 5,000 experts across 60 offices in 20 countries, collectively handling over $5 billion in media.

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 13,000+ specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

PR Contact:
Madeleine Maher
pr@stagwellglobal.com

“Sidekick is at the forefront of storytelling and will be an essential part of the challenger marketing network we are building in Europe,” said Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO, Stagwell. “As we embark on our next chapter in Europe, I’m excited to welcome Duncan and Ollie to our network and see Allison continue to transform its content innovation capabilities.”

The addition of Sidekick will further expand Allison’s footprint in Europe and introduce capabilities in the market that are critical for a new era of integrated brand storytelling. It adds tremendous synergies to Allison’s existing core competencies of strategic communications, influencer marketing, digital, performance marketing and data analytics. 

“After a successful period of collaboration with the Sidekick team, we are delighted to have them officially join the Allison family.  The organisation that the Sidekick founders have built together with their colleagues delivers an impressive suite of services that complements those already offered by Allison and leads with a strong and supportive culture that aligns with our own,” said Scott Allison, Global Chairman of Allison.  He added, “As we continue to expand our operations throughout Europe, Sidekick will form an integral part of this growth story.”

The Sidekick Group launched back in 2021 when experiential agency Kreate and content agency Many Makers came together to form a strategic arm of the business, capitalising its collective expertise on behalf of clients.  Kreate delivers ‘real-world’ activations for clients, specialising in brand experience and live events.  Many Makers is a video and brand content agency that uses digital storytelling including social media, video production, gamification and AR/VR content on behalf of the wider group.

Sidekick Co-founders Duncan McCaslin and Ollie Burgoyne will remain as Managing Directors of their respective teams and both will join Allison’s European management team.  Directors William Howe and Stephen Bradley will also move across in their current roles.  No other staffing changes are planned.

“The acquisition represents a significant leap forward in the growth of Sidekick and our people. Having seen our collective teams work successfully together over the last year or so, we knew that joining with Allison and Stagwell was the logical next step. We see this as the perfect time to combine forces, further enhancing our collective capabilities and ensuring that we continue to deliver outstanding results for our clients,” said Duncan McCaslin, MD of Sidekick and Kreate.

“This is an extremely exciting next step for Sidekick. Having worked alongside the team at Allison for the last two years, we quickly realised that we share the same vision and values.  I can’t wait for our teams to work as one and to be a part of the exciting growth plans that Scott and team have in place,” added Ollie Burgoyne, MD of Sidekick and Many Makers.

This acquisition comes amid a significant European acceleration at Stagwell, which has in recent months appointed James Townsend as CEO, EMEA, and launched a regional hub at the Blue Fin Building in London to connect its 15+ agencies and over 1900 employees within the region.

Sidekick is Stagwell’s second acquisition of the year, following the purchase of Team Epiphany, a culturalist creative agency connecting brands to multicultural consumers, in January 2024.

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 13,000+ specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com

About Allison
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  

Stagwell PR Contact
Beth Sidhu
pr@stagwellglobal.com 

Stagwell IR Contact
Ben Allanson
ir@stagwellglobal.com 

Allison PR Contact
Kate Lynch
kate.lynch@allisonworldwide.com 

“We’ve seen the industry pick itself up again, and as a result, we have had the privilege of working with clients to build even more scaled, engaging, and audacious brand moments. Our new brand identity and focused purpose captures who we’ve always been and will continue to be – a dynamic TEAM focused on creating transformative brand experiences for communities of like-minded individuals. Communities who share passions, careers, cultures, hobbies, and everything in between,” said CEO of TEAM, Dan Gregory.

In recent years, TEAM has worked with leading global brands to do exactly that. From helping La Roche-Posay rally sun lovers to break a Guinness World Record during Save Our Skin Day, to bringing the agave fields and Patron’s Hacienda distillery to tequila fans at music festivals.

“It’s one thing to flawlessly execute a major event, but it’s another to actively guide a client in achieving real objectives; connecting with a specific community in a deeply personal and memorable way, while advancing brand(s) and business. With 35 years of honing this craft, we proudly wave our new banner high as we continue aiming to change the game,” continued Gregory.

The rollout of the new brand identity includes a refreshed website, which opens to the headline “MADE TO EXPERIENCE” boldly stated over recent client work, showcased on the homepage. An emphasis on supercharging human connections and community to build brands is at the heart of the redesign.

Recent Wins and Momentum

As the market rebounds, tenured partners like Bacardi continue to build momentum, while new brands from across industry verticals are increasingly engaging TEAM to support their experiential efforts, including:

• Floor & Décor recently tapped TEAM to handle experiential grand opening activations across the U.S.;
• Angel’s Envy Bourbon, partnered with TEAM on a Brand Ambassador program; and
• City National Bank enlisted TEAM to handle sponsorship and experiential in strategic markets.

Amazon, Molson Coors, Body Armor and Hertz are other highlights in TEAM’s 100,000 yearly global brand activations. TEAM also served as a key production partner for Stagwell’s SPORT BEACH at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, which brought together brands, platforms and athletes at the intersection of culture and fandom. SPORT BEACH promises to be back bigger and better than ever in 2024.

TEAM was named Ad Age Best Places to Work 2024, a recognition of the top 50 marketing and advertising agencies who are getting the job done for the mutual benefit of employees and employers.

About TEAM
TEAM is an agency dedicated to making impactful brand experiences. We bring big ideas to life in ways that are not just seen and heard but truly felt. Every year, we design and deliver over 100,000 brand activations and events across the globe. Our brand playbooks merge commercial success with creative brilliance, creating meaningful connections and nurturing community spirit. Whether building brands from scratch or revitalizing existing ones, we infuse them with vitality, authenticity, and tangible platforms for interaction. By prioritizing scaled experiences at the core of brand strategy, we empower brands to build deeper relationships, share compelling stories, and engage with audiences authentically. Visit www.weareteam.com.

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 13,000+ specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

CONTACT: 
Madi Maher
pr@stagwellglobal.com 

Wilde will lead new business development and marketing, harnessing the power of Assembly’s digital-born capabilities to enhance the agency’s brand portfolio across Europe. He brings a wealth of experience in driving growth and exceptional client leadership. Wilde joins Assembly from Wavemaker UK, where he held the position of Head of Growth. He has achieved unparalleled success in client acquisition and retention across a variety of sectors including retail, luxury, transportation and governmental services – working with brands such as Transport for London, William Hill, and Trainline.

As Commercial Director in Europe, Herbertson’s role will center around building strong commercial and business operation models for our clients, strengthening strategic partnerships and investments, and through innovative new ways of working, delivering incremental business outcomes. Prior to Assembly, Herbertson served as the International Agency and Client Lead at Astus and has created UK and Global commercial and engagement strategies at Dentsu. Herbertson has led global client media investments, working with blue-chip brands such as Reckitt Benckiser and One Kraft Heinz.

“I’m delighted to welcome Lizzy and James to Assembly as we are well-positioned to win well and win big – redefining brand performance for our clients. James is an exceptional leader with a proven record of growth know-how and outstanding client leadership,” said Matt Adams, Assembly Europe CEO. “And Lizzy’s remarkable business acumen and impressive track record of commercial success will make her an invaluable asset to our team. We are thrilled to have them both on board to supercharge growth in the European market.”

ABOUT ASSEMBLY EUROPE 

Assembly is a leading global omnichannel media agency, operating in 26 offices worldwide. Our Europe headquarters in London serves as a dynamic regional hub, with presence in Paris, Milan, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Warsaw, Barcelona, Madrid, Copenhagen, and Tel Aviv. With a team of over 400 experts specializing in omnichannel strategies, digital brand and performance, e-commerce, data science, and sustainability, we are committed to finding the change that fuels growth for the world’s top brands. As a trusted strategic partner, our collaborations have predominantly centered around renowned brands in the spheres of luxury, fashion, beauty, retail, and technology. Assembly is honoured to be named one of the few recipients of the prestigious Google Premier Partner of the Year 2023. Our work is powered by our proprietary in-house technology solution, STAGE, and supported by our global talent base of over 1,700 professionals. Assembly is a proud member of Stagwell, the challenger network built to transform marketing. For more information, visit assemblyglobal.com. 

Media Relations Contact:
Jess Santini, VP, Global Marketing 
jess.santini@assemblyglobal.com

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2335119/Lizzy_and_James.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1963651/4532314/Assembly_Logo.jpg

Ashley has previously held strategy and leadership roles at Netflix, IDEO, Preacher, and Outerknown. “My favorite kind of brand work is exactly what Redscout is doing,” she shared. “The caliber of talent, forward-thinking approach, and how the team is boldly reshaping industries alongside some of the best brands on the planet really impressed me.”

Throughout its 20+ years of history, Redscout has employed creative urgency to assist marketers in addressing global business challenges. The company has worked on diverse projects, from tackling the literacy crisis with Scholastic to helping Best Buy transform into a multipronged business across various sectors. Redscout has also played a crucial role in fostering consistent growth for individual brands like Bombas and Meow Wolf, solidifying its reputation as a trusted ally to leaders navigating category-defining change.

Redscout’s CEO Ivan Kayser said, “2024 marks the beginning of a new chapter. There’s renewed enthusiasm among brands to be ambitious, push the boundaries, and leverage the spate of new technology at the doorstep, but at the same time, we will need to balance enduring macro uncertainty. For Redscout this was the right time to have a strong leader at the helm with deep consulting and client-side experience to ensure we are as educated, skilled and agile as we can possibly be. We’re honored to have Ashley joining the team!”

About Redscout
Redscout is a brand strategy and design consultancy based in New York, serving clients all over the world. Redscout helps marketing leaders future-proof their brands and products through times of uncertainty. Founded in 2000, the team is a part of Stagwell, in good company alongside Instrument, 72andSunny and Anomaly. Redscout has been a trusted partner to brands such as Best Buy, LiveNation, PepsiCo, Oscar Health and Meow Wolf. To learn more, visit https://www.redscout.com/.

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 13,000+ specialists in 34+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

CONTACT: 
Madi Maher
pr@stagwellglobal.com  

In his role as CMO, Brandt will be responsible for generating further awareness, adoption and growth of the PRophet Suite – consisting of the Earn, Influence, and Monitor products. It is the most comprehensive and accessible AI solution for brands and agencies alike to improve their productivity and quality of their creative output. He will also help new and existing PRophet customers unlock value from the platform to reach and engage their target audiences in innovative, compelling and resonant ways.

“I’m proud to join PRophet at this critical juncture in the company’s evolution, uniquely positioned to address the challenges that modern communicators face, and offering AI solutions that can immediately make a difference,” Brandt said. “We are really fascinated with vertical AI and helping companies work through the complexities of understanding, sizing and integrating practical AI. We feel PRophet solves that for communication teams.”

Brandt joins PRophet, the flagship product within Stagwell’s Comms Tech Unit, from his previous position as managing partner of Stagwell Technologies. Prior to Stagwell, Brandt served as the Chief Innovation Officer for the P&G Team at WPP, where he focused on integrating creative technology solutions to enhance customer experience and brand loyalty. He also served as the Chief Growth Officer at WPP company Grey Midwest, where he spearheaded growth strategies and fostering internal partnerships across Grey while delivering innovative CRM, digital, and performance marketing capabilities to global brands.

“Jason has a proven track record of innovation and strategic leadership, embodying the future-forward approach that PRophet champions. His expertise will propel us forward in our mission to revolutionize the modern communications landscape through AI-driven tools,” said Aaron Kwittken, founder and CEO of PRophet, and CEO of Stagwell Marketing Cloud, Comms Tech Unit. “With the addition of Jason to our executive team, I am confident that PRophet will continue to drive innovation, foster growth, and reshape the industry.”

About PRophet
PRophet is the first and only generative and predictive AI SaaS suite built by and for PR and marketing professionals. PRophet Earn uses a combination of AI, language processing and machine learning to generate, analyze and test content that predicts earned media interest and sentiment. PRophet Influence combines generative AI, data analytics, and monitoring technology to create personalized influencer marketing programs, while PRophet Monitor introduces the ability to create personalized alerts across a diversity of media channels from within the PRophet platform. PRophet was founded in 2020 by PR and marketing industry thought leader and entrepreneur Aaron Kwittken and is part of the Stagwell Marketing Cloud, a suite of SaaS solutions that powers research, communications, and media activation for in-house marketers. To learn more, visit prprophet.ai.

About Stagwell Marketing Cloud
Stagwell Marketing Cloud (SMC) is a marketing-focused, AI-enablement platform built for the modern marketer. Born out of Stagwell’s (NASDAQ: STGW) network of award-winning marketing agencies, SMC’s technology empowers marketers to drive business impact by giving them intuitive tools equipped with proprietary, actionable data. SMC’s portfolio of solutions powers strategic customer research, communications, and media activation for brands worldwide by leveraging technology such as generative and predictive artificial intelligence, shared augmented reality, and more. Get your head in the cloud at www.stagwellmarketingcloud.com.

Media Contacts:
Alex Birmingham
KWT Global
abirmingham@kwtgloblal.com