Acquisitions/transactions
Dentsu Aegis Network has acquired 4Cite Marketing, which will join Merkle, a data-driven marketing company and part of the Dentsu Aegis Network.
Ipsos has acquired the mystery shopping business of the Maritz group.
Accenture has agreed to acquire Mudano, a strategic data consultancy to U.K. financial services firms.
Australian research company Colmar Brunton will be fully integrated into Kantar. Joan Young, Colmar Brunton CEO, will become global head of syndicated products for Kantar’s public division. Additionally, Rob McLachlan will take on a one-year assignment as chairman to help the integration process.
Trinity McQueen has acquired research agency Blinc Partnerships.
Marketing researcher Savanta has acquired the U.K. division of Future Thinking, a market research and data analytics company.
Experience management company Medallia has acquired video feedback platform LivingLens.
Dentsu Aegis Network has acquired Media Storm, which will join Merkle, a data-driven marketing company and part of the Dentsu Aegis Network.
Customer experience company Bond Brand Loyalty has acquired Atlanta-based rDialogue, a customer marketing firm.
Marketing researcher Confirmit has been acquired by private equity firm Verdane. Verdane is the major investor in data visualization reporting firm Dapresy and will merge the two companies.
Information tech company Capgemini has agreed to acquire social impact agency Purpose.
InMoment and MaritzCX have agreed to merge, with Andrew Joiner leading the combined organization as CEO and John Lewis chairing the board of directors. For now, it is expected that MaritzCX will operate as MaritzCX, an InMoment company.
Alliances/strategic partnerships
Agricultural publication RealAgriculture and marketing researcher Agri Studies have partnered to launch RealAgristudies to understand farmers and the agricultural market.
Media measurement company Comscore has partnered with TargetSmart to create customized political advertising segments that combine TargetSmart's voter data with Comscore's StationView Essentials household viewing preferences.
Bazaarvoice and Yotpo have partnered to provide Yotpo’s brand clients the ability to syndicate customer ratings and reviews and visual user-generated content to retailer sites in the Bazaarvoice network.
Data science and marketing technology company 4C has partnered with NBCUniversal on the latter company's One Platform.
Association/organization news
The Insights Association has called for further changes to the second draft of regulations implementing the California Consumer Protection Act, including clarifying and redefining some terms, as well as allowing businesses time to comply before enforcement.
Awards/rankings
Research and development company BBN has been ranked No. 1 in the latest list of international B2B marcomms agencies by B2B Marketing.
Marketing researcher Confirmit was named a "Leader" in the customer feedback management space in a recent report titled The Forrester Wave Customer Feedback Management Platforms, Q1 2020.
GfK will hold its NextGen Data Science Hackathon Competition, which challenges undergrads to come up with a smart design and marketing plan for a new smart car product – for a prize of $5,000. The competition will take place March 20-30, 2020, and finalists will be judged by a panel of auto industry experts. The winner will be announced at the New York Auto Show in April.
B2B marketing platform Folloze has been named as an emerging account-based marketing vendor by Forrester Research.
New accounts/projects
Data services firm Maru/Blue has launched its sample quality certification program, Maru/Blue Sample Certified.
New companies/new divisions/relocations/expansions
Quantzig, a data analytics and advisory firm, has launched its portfolio of service management analytics solutions.
Technology provider Cint announced its new corporate brand identity.
Anti-virus software company Avast is closing its marketing analytics arm Jumpshot amid reports that it harvested and sold users’ browsing data.
Data-driven marketing company Merkle has launched its promotion and loyalty solutions division, created through the integration of digital marketing company HelloWorld and Merkle Loyalty Solutions Group.
Professional services firm Rand Group has launched its data sciences practice. The initiative will be led by Brian Petersen and Anthony Bonaduce who join Rand Group as vice presidents.
Analytics platform Signals Analytics announced the expansion of its platform coverage within food and beverage categories.
Following its acquisition by Insites Consulting, South African insights agency Columinate has rebranded to InSites Consulting South Africa.
UX research firm AnswerLab has launched its first international team in Gurgaon, India.
Clarivate Analytics is adding an office in Chandler, Ariz., which will house 150 new employees as well as the company’s new Center of Excellence.
Research company earnings/financial news
Consumer insights platform Suzy has closed $12 million in Series C funding led by Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments and with participation from Foundry Group and Triangle Peak Partners.
Marketing company LiveRamp has released financial results for the third quarter ending in December 31, 2019, announcing total revenue of $102 million, up 28% compared to the prior-year period.
Customer experience company Clarabridge Inc. reported a 110% year-over-year increase for 2019 in annual recurring revenue from customers analyzing conversations in the contact center.
Marketing researcher Ipsos generated over €2 billion in revenue in 2019, a 14.5% increase from 2018.