Accolades include being named to the Design Company of the Year list and receiving the Enduring Impact award for companies with 15-plus years of success.
NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 15, 2026 / Code and Theory has received the dual honor of being named a Fast Company Design Company of the Year and selected for its “Enduring Impact” award, which recognizes the best design among companies with 15-plus years in business.
The accolades mark the agency’s fourth consecutive year in which Code and Theory has been selected for Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards.
Technology has made it easier to make things, but most businesses find it harder to make things that matter. It’s a gap that keeps growing and one that Code and Theory is uniquely built to close. For 25 years, the agency has brought creativity and technology together through a differentiated balance of 50% creatives and 50% engineers. Code and Theory has evolved that model into a digital transformation engine built to handle disruption, combining human creativity, forward-deployed expertise and agentic solutions to drive tangible business outcomes.
Over the past year, that work has delivered measurable results across industries:
- TIME: Transformed the legacy publisher into a modern, AI-powered platform, increasing digital revenue by 159% year over year.
- Stanley Black & Decker: Created one design system for more than 30 brands across 55 markets, helping increase e-commerce conversion by 40%.
- JBL: Created the industry’s first AI-native discovery system, built for the way search works now, growing AI-driven referrals by 2,434% year over year.
- T. Rowe Price: Unified 47 fragmented sites on a single system, saving 100,000 team hours and $15M in avoided costs.
- NFL: Reinvented NFL.com to help fans find what they want faster, increasing NFL+ discovery by 104% year over year and tripling acquisition.
The 2026 awards also recognize work from across the Code and Theory Network. Instrument and ŌURA have been named in the UX Design category for Instrument’s reimagining of the ŌURA app experience. Instrument’s Playspace, an open, living archive of experiments, tools and interactive sketches, has also been honored in the Experimental and Conceptual Design category. The platform gives teams a place to test ideas, build prototypes and turn emerging technologies into tangible, usable experiences.
This recognition builds on a broader history of Fast Company honors for the Code and Theory Network. In 2025, Code and Theory was named to Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies list in the Design and Teamwork categories, while Instrument was named to Fast Company’s list of Best Workplaces for Innovators. Code and Theory’s previous Innovation by Design honors include three distinctions for NBC’s Big Board, the NFL app and Design Company of the Year (2025).
This year, Code and Theory was honored alongside Google, Canva, SharkNinja and Design Bridge and Partners in the Design Agency of the Year category as well as Adobe, L’Oreal and CVS Health in the Enduring Impact category.
Dan Gardner, founder of Code and Theory, says: “It’s a crazy moment to be able to be creative and use technology to design what’s never come before. Our teams are more excited about the future than ever because moments like this don’t come around very often. As we head into our 25th anniversary, I can say that being recognized for the work we’re doing at a time like this is a real honor for our clients and all of the great talent at Code and Theory.”
Brendan Vaughan, Editor-in-Chief at Fast Company, says: “The Innovation by Design Awards have always recognized the ideas that challenge convention and show what’s possible when design is treated as a strategic force, not an afterthought. Congratulations to this year’s honorees, who demonstrate how thoughtful design can solve meaningful problems and create new possibilities for people and businesses.”
About Fast Company
Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow business publication Inc., and can be found online at www.fastcompany.com.
About Code and Theory
Code and Theory is the digital transformation agency where the C-suite comes together to create change. Our differentiated balance of 50% creatives and 50% engineers at scale allows us to bring strategy, creativity and technology together in one integrated offering. This enables our clients to gain competitive advantages in how they operate, market and serve their customers. Code and Theory is Stagwell’s (STGW) digital transformation network, which includes its flagship agency, Code and Theory, along with Create. Group, Current, Instrument, Kettle, Left Field Labs and Truelogic. Code and Theory is the most decorated agency of the past three years, with 20 top agency honors, including Ad Age, Adweek and Fast Company. Our clients include Amazon, IBM, JPMorganChase, Microsoft, NBC and the NFL. For more, visit codeandtheory.com.
Media Contact
Kenneth Hein
kenneth.hein@codeandtheory.com
SOURCE: Stagwell
Liz Rutgersson appointed Chief Executive Officer of Assembly and Connie Chan elevated to CEO of Assembly APAC; New leadership team to drive next phase of growth for the global media agency
NEW YORK, NY AND SINGAPORE / ACCESS Newswire / September 14, 2026 / Stagwell (NASDAQ:STGW), the global challenger network transforming marketing through AI, today announced the appointment of Liz Rutgersson as Chief Executive Officer of Assembly with a global and North America remit, effective September 14, 2026. Reporting to Slavi Samardzija, Global Chair of Media & Commerce at Stagwell, Rutgersson will drive Assembly’s growth, strengthen client partnerships and lead the agency into its next chapter. Connie Chan will take on the role of CEO of Assembly APAC while continuing as Chief Growth Officer of Stagwell APAC, effective immediately. Together, these leaders will drive the next phase of growth for Assembly.
Rutgersson brings more than 20 years of marketing expertise spanning brand building and strategy, digital media, analytics and search optimization. She has a proven track record of driving new business growth while maintaining high agency and client retention rates. Rutgersson joins Assembly after 16 years at dentsu, most recently serving as CEO of iProspect North America for the past three years. Throughout her career, she has partnered with leading global brands including Hilton, eBay, Salesforce, Ferrero, Dollar General and Tesco.
Chan brings three decades of experience across media, marketing, and business leadership. Since taking on the Chief Growth Officer role, she has helped expand Stagwell’s presence across key APAC markets, driving new business growth, strengthening regional client partnerships, and advancing capabilities across media and digital experience.
“Liz and Connie are exceptional leaders with a proven track record of driving growth for advertisers, building high-performing teams and helping clients succeed in a rapidly changing media ecosystem. Their appointments strengthen Assembly’s leadership for what comes next and reinforce our commitment to creating a more modern, agile agency that delivers meaningful business outcomes for clients around the world,” said Slavi Samardzija, Global Chair of Media & Commerce at Stagwell.
“I’ve spent my career believing that the best agencies don’t just respond to change, they help define what comes next. For too long, our industry has been shaped by legacy structures that don’t always reflect what drives the best outcomes for clients. Assembly has a foundation of incredible talent, global scale and connected capabilities, and I’m energized by the opportunity to build on strengths and push them further – building around the needs of our clients’ businesses, with their performance as the clearest measure of our own success and client growth as our organizing principle,” shared Rutgersson.
Rutgersson succeeds Rick Acampora, former Global CEO of Assembly, who moved into a new role at the holding company focused on developing new commercial frameworks earlier in the year. Jill Kelly, former CEO of Assembly North America, will support the leadership transition to ensure continuity for clients, teams and partners.
The appointments come as Stagwell continues to build momentum globally and across APAC. The network recently strengthened its global media offering with the launches of The Media Machine and Stagwell Search+, opened a new APAC headquarters in Singapore, and expanded its capabilities, scale and client offering across the region through the integration of Assembly and ADK GLOBAL. The agency also received multiple honours at The Drum Marketing Awards APAC 2026, with winning work spanning China, Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore across categories including Arts & Culture, Brand Relaunch and Sports Marketing.
About Assembly
Assembly is a global omnichannel agency built for brands that want a more modern approach to building brands that perform. Backed by the Stagwell network, Assembly brings together data, talent, and technology to unlock smarter, faster, and better-performing outcomes. With over 3,000 experts across 40+ offices worldwide, Assembly delivers full-funnel solutions that help the world’s most ambitious brands connect, engage, and grow across media, creative, commerce, and technology.
About Stagwell
Stagwell is the global challenger network transforming marketing through AI. 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 45+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for our clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.
Contact
SOURCE: Assembly
MIDTERMS HORSERACE REMAINS TIGHT AT 51-49 WITH DEMOCRATS HOLDING A 2-POINT LEAD, BUT LEAD FLIPS TO REPUBLICANS +2 AMONG LIKELY MIDTERM VOTERS
LESS THAN HALF OF VOTERS HAVE MADE A DECISION ON THEIR MIDTERMS VOTE, WITH 69% SAYING THEY WILL VOTE
HALF OF AMERICANS BELIEVE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS BEING TAKEN OVER BY THE FAR LEFT AND 45% SAY THE GOP IS BEING TAKEN OVER BY THE FAR RIGHT
THREE-FOURTHS OF VOTERS WANT BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS TO REJECT EXTREMIST VOICES WITHIN THEIR PARTIES
A PLURALITY OF VOTERS RELY ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR INFORMATION ON POLITICS, EVEN AS 55% BELIEVE FEEDS ARE BEING MANIPULATED BY FOREIGN POWERS
56% OF VOTERS NOW SEE AI AS AN ECONOMIC PROBLEM, AND CLOSE TO 6 IN 10 SAY IT WILL LEAD TO MASSIVE UNEMPLOYMENT
TWO-THIRDS OF VOTERS WANT THE U.S. AND CANADA TO COME TO A NEW TRADE AGREEMENT; MAJORITY PRIORITIZES MAINTAINING A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP AND LOWER PRICES FOR CONSUMERS
66% OF VOTERS EXPECT AN IRANIAN UPRISING IN THE NEXT 6 MONTHS DUE TO U.S. ECONOMIC AND MILITARY PRESSURE ON THE CURRENT REGIME
NEW YORK CITY, NY AND CAMBRIDGE, MA / ACCESS Newswire / September 2, 2026 / Stagwell (NASDAQ:STGW) today released the results of the August Harvard CAPS / Harris poll, a monthly collaboration between the Center for American Political Studies at Harvard (CAPS) and the Harris Poll and HarrisX.
President Donald Trump’s approval rating is at 44%, 2 points up from July. His job approval is highest on fighting crime in America’s cities (48%) and immigration (47%), and lowest on handling inflation (37%) and tariffs and trade (38%). This month’s poll also covered public opinion on the economy, midterm issues and messaging, U.S.-Canada trade, and conflicts in the Middle East. Download the key results here.
“Voters are feeling slightly more optimistic across the board, with Trump, Democratic, and GOP approval on the up,” said Mark Penn, Co-Director of the Harvard CAPS / Harris poll and Stagwell Chairman and CEO. “They recognize the weight of the upcoming midterm elections and want to hear from their politicians on inflation, fraud, and AI.”
VOTERS FEELING SLIGHTLY MORE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE COUNTRY
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37% of voters say the country is on the right track (+2 pts., July 2026).
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48% of voters say the U.S. economy is strong today (+2), and 32% say their personal financial situation is improving (+2).
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The Republican Party approval rating is at 45% (+2), while the Democratic Party approval rating is at 47% (+4), its highest level since October 2024. Congressional approval is at 34% (+2).
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Among key politicians today, voters have a more favorable view of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (+4 net favorable), and Marco Rubio (+4), and a more unfavorable view of Abdul El-Sayed (-18), Chuck Schumer (-17), and Zohran Mamdani (-14).
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Inflation and the economy remain voters’ top concerns, though the economy ticked down in salience (-3 pts., July 2026) while the U.S.-Iran conflict increased in salience (+5), with 20% of voters citing it is one of the most important issues facing the country today.
MAJORITY OF TRUMP POLICIES CONTINUE TO SEE STRONG SUPPORT
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10 out of 13 key Trump policy positions continue to see majority support. His most popular policies are lowering prescription drug prices (84% support), deporting illegal immigrants who have committed crimes (74%), and requiring proof of citizenship to vote (70%).
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Trump’s least popular policy positions include placing a 15% tariff on imports from all countries (40%), allowing immigration authorities to access information on low-income families (48%), and eliminating mail-in voting (50%).
DEMOCRATS HOLD A 2-PT. EDGE IN CONGRESSIONAL HORSERACE BUT REPUBLICANS ARE 2-PT. AHEAD AMONG LIKELY MIDTERM VOTERS
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69% of voters say they are planning to vote in the upcoming 2026 Congressional midterm elections (Democrats: 57%; Republicans: 63%; Independents: 38%).
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The horserace is split 51-49 among general voters with Democrats holding a 2-pt. lead with 54% of Independents leaning Democrat, but among likely midterm voters, Republicans hold a 2-pt. lead.
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40% of voters plan to vote in-person on Election Day, while 24% plan to vote in-person before, and 19% plan to vote by absentee or mail-in ballot.
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46% of voters say their vote is decided for the midterms, while 27% say they are leaning toward certain candidates but could still change their mind. 19% of voters remain undecided, including 28% of Independents.
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82% say this midterm election is important, with 51% saying it is extremely important.
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Looking to 2028, Kamala Harris (+5) and J.D. Vance (+2) remain the most favored candidates for president among voters from their respective parties.
INFLATION, FRAUD, AND AI CONCERNS ARE KEY ISSUES HEADING INTO MIDTERMS
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51% of voters say the Democratic Party is being taken over by the far left. 55% of voters say the Republican Party being taken over by the far right is an exaggerated view.
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77% of voters say the Democratic Party should reject extremists like Hasan Piker, and 75% of voters believe the Republican Party should reject extremists like Candace Owens, including a majority across political parties.
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55% of voters say the Trump administration is more responsible for inflation over the last few years over Biden.
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56% of voters say people who are committing fraud and getting payments they don’t deserve is more of a concern than the rich getting more.
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56% of voters say AI is more of a problem for our economy than an answer to our problems (Democrats: 63%; Republicans: 45%; Independents: 63%). 58% believe it will create tens of millions of unemployed people.
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38% of voters, a plurality, say they rely on social media for information on politics. 31% say they rely on network news, and 23% say they rely on cable TV.
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55% of voters think social media is being manipulated by foreign powers to affect our elections.
MIDTERM MESSAGING THAT TAKES TO TASK THE OTHER PARTY TESTS MOST EFFECTIVE AMONG VOTERS
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Among key tested Democratic messaging, voters find cost of living and women’s rights messages to be the most believable, with messaging involving direct attacks on Trump testing more effective.
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Among key tested Republican messaging, voters find messages involving attacks on Democrats for woke DEI policies, open borders, and higher taxes most believable. Messaging attacking Democrats on being too far left tested effective as well.
VOTERS BELIEVE U.S. AND CANADA SHOULD REACH A NEW TRADE AGREEMENT; PRIORITIZE MAINTAINING A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP AND LOWER PRICES FOR CONSUMERS
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60% of voters say it is more important to keep prices lower for consumers than protect U.S. industries and jobs, including a majority across political parties.
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58% of voters say maintaining a positive U.S.-Canada relationship is more important than cracking down on any trade imbalance between the two and protecting American jobs (Democrats: 74%, Republicans: 42%, Independents: 59%).
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63% of voters have heard about U.S. trade negotiations with Canada.
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64% of voters believe U.S. trade with Canada is mostly fair, though 67% say the countries should reach a new trade agreement.
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68% of voters say the U.S. is more responsible for the breakdown in trade negotiations last week, and 55% say the U.S. is not justified in imposing 50% tariffs on Canadian goods. 59% of voters say Canada’s matching 50% tariff on American goods was a reasonable response.
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62% of voters expect the 50% tariff on Canadian goods will raise prices.
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68% of voters oppose changing the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America.”
TWO-THIRDS OF VOTERS EXPECT IRANIAN UPRISING DUE TO U.S. PRESSURE ON CURRENT REGIME
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65% of voters say they are following developments in the U.S.-Iran conflict closely. 43%, a plurality, believe the U.S. is winning.
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65% of voters say Iranians are not serious in their negotiations and are just working to buy time, including a majority across political parties.
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69% of voters say Iran should not be allowed to control the Strait of Hormuz, including a majority across political parties. 72% say the U.S. should resume use of force, sanctions, and blockades if Iran does not give up control of the Strait.
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57% of voters say Trump’s handling of the Strait is increasing the risk of a longer and wider conflict. 53% believe Trump should be willing to compromise if it reduces risk of further conflict.
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66% of voters say it is likely there will be an uprising of the Iranian people in the next 6 months due to current U.S. economic and military pressure on the Iranian regime.
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53% of voters oppose Trump’s handling of the conflict so far.
MOST VOTERS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ISRAEL OVER HAMAS, BELIEVING TERRORIST GROUPS ARE ACTIVELY TRYING TO DESTROY IT
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70% of voters continue to support Israel over Hamas.
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76% of voters believe there are terrorist groups on the borders of Israel today, including a majority across political parties and age groups. 42%, a plurality, believe the groups are trying to destroy Israel.
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72% of voters say Hezbollah should be required to disarm as part of a long-term peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon.
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74% of voters say Israel has a right to exist as the Jewish homeland.
The August Harvard CAPS / Harris poll survey was conducted online within the United States on August 28-30, 2026, among 2,100 registered voters by The Harris Poll and HarrisX.
About The Harris Poll & HarrisX
The Harris Poll is a global consulting and market research firm that strives to reveal the authentic values of modern society to inspire leaders to create a better tomorrow. It works with clients in three primary areas: building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. One of the longest-running surveys in the U.S., The Harris Poll has tracked public opinion, motivations, and social sentiment since 1963, and is now part of Stagwell, the challenger holding company built to transform marketing.
HarrisX is a technology-driven market research and data analytics company that conducts multi-method research in the U.S. and over 40 countries around the world on behalf of Fortune 100 companies, public policy institutions, global leaders, NGOs and philanthropic organizations. HarrisX was the most accurate pollster of the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
About the Harvard Center for American Political Studies
The Center for American Political Studies (CAPS) is committed to and fosters the interdisciplinary study of U.S. politics. Governed by a group of political scientists, sociologists, historians, and economists within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University, CAPS drives discussion, research, public outreach, and pedagogy about all aspects of U.S. politics. CAPS encourages cutting-edge research using a variety of methodologies, including historical analysis, social surveys, and formal mathematical modeling, and it often cooperates with other Harvard centers to support research training and encourage cross-national research about the United States in comparative and global contexts. More information at https://caps.gov.harvard.edu/.
Contact:
Carrie Hsu
pr@stagwellglobal.com
SOURCE: Stagwell
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The Stagwell company helps organizations turn behavioral and location intelligence into real-world consumer insight
NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 1, 2026 / The People Platform, part of Stagwell’s The Marketing Cloud (NASDAQ:STGW), today announced its rebrand as Numetrix, a new identity that reflects the company’s expanded capabilities as a consumer behavioral data and location intelligence leader. Alongside a new name, brand identity and digital experience, Numetrix represents the next chapter for The People Platform – bringing together consumer research and location intelligence to surface real-world behavioral data to help organizations better understand audiences, optimize media investments and make data-backed business decisions.
Built to serve digital out-of-home (DOOH) and out-of-home (OOH) media owners, Retail Media Networks, brands, advertisers, and more, Numetrix leverages advanced geospatial technology, location-based research, AI and first- and third-party data to provide organizations with a more complete view of consumer behavior. Customers can quantify and monetize audiences, validate messaging, measure campaign effectiveness, evaluate market opportunities, optimize media investments, and uncover behavioral insights that drive smarter planning, activation, and measurement.
“Our new identity as Numetrix reflects how our capabilities have evolved and reinforces our mission to help organizations understand real-world consumer behavior,” said George Brady, CEO of Numetrix. “Marketing leaders today need more than surveys or demographic data alone. They need to understand how consumers behave in the real world. By bringing together behavioral data and location intelligence, Numetrix delivers the clarity organizations need to make smarter decisions about audiences, media investments, and growth.”
Consumer research reveals what people say and believe, while location intelligence shows how they behave and move in the real world. Numetrix brings these perspectives together to give organizations a richer, more complete understanding of audiences, markets and media performance.
“Numetrix reflects The Marketing Cloud’s commitment to building intelligence that helps organizations turn data into decisive action,” said Elspeth Rollert, CEO of The Marketing Cloud. “As businesses seek a more complete understanding of consumer behavior, solutions that connect research with real-world intelligence are becoming essential. Numetrix strengthens our portfolio with a differentiated offering that helps customers make smarter decisions with greater confidence.”
The rebrand is effective immediately. Existing customers will continue to receive the same trusted data and support while benefiting from continued innovation under the Numetrix brand.
For more information, please visit www.numetrix.io.
About Numetrix
Numetrix is a consumer research and location intelligence company that helps organizations clearly define, measure and understand real-world consumer behavior, enabling more data-backed decisions about audiences, media and investment. By combining real-world behavioral data, rigorous research methodologies and advanced location intelligence, Numetrix provides organizations with the clarity and confidence to optimize media investments, improve audience targeting and better understand consumer behavior.
Numetrix was acquired in 2022 by Stagwell (NASDAQ:STGW) and is part of The Marketing Cloud.
Media Contact:
Alyssa Bourne-Peters, PR Director
Alyssa.Bourne-Peters@themarketingcloud.com
+1-917-592-9795
SOURCE: Stagwell
The multi-year collaboration embeds Stagwell’s data intelligence, creative transformation and AI capabilities directly into Adobe’s enterprise growth engine
NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / August 27, 2026 / Stagwell (NASDAQ:STGW), the global challenger network transforming marketing through AI, today announced the next evolution of its strategic partnership with Adobe to leverage the Stagwell network to accelerate how Adobe wins, grows and retains enterprise customers.
Through the expanded partnership, which builds upon a relationship that kicked off in Q4 2024, Stagwell will drive targeted demand-generation programs across priority industries, work alongside Adobe on key accounts, and deliver senior strategic counsel and value realization services to help customers maximize the impact of their technology investments and accelerate growth.
At the center of the partnership is Code and Theory, Stagwell’s digital transformation agency, which is building a portfolio of industry-specific solutions co-developed with Adobe. Since the relationship began, Code and Theory has expanded from three planned solutions to seven, reflecting growing demand for the agency’s services and its deep expertise across a breadth of industries, including financial services, B2B, sports and retail.
The momentum is already building in market, with the Creative Intelligence System (CIS) for financial services, which launched in April, followed by the Content Operating System (COS) for sports launched in June, both powered by Adobe CX Enterprise helping teams and leagues meet the growing content demands of operating as modern media companies. A third industry-specific solution is scheduled to launch later this year, with additional offerings planned over the next 18 months. This shared vision also extends to Adobe and Stagwell’s investment in the future of sports marketing, where fandom, culture, technology and business increasingly converge. Adobe’s multi-year partnership as SPORT BEACH’s Official Experience Partner exemplifies this vision, creating meaningful experiences and platforms that unite brands, athletes, creators and business leaders around the evolving intersection of sports, culture, business and technology.
“Adobe and Stagwell share a belief that the future of enterprise marketing will be defined by the convergence of data, AI, technology and creativity,” said Stagwell Chairman and CEO Mark Penn. “By bringing together Adobe’s industry-leading platform with Stagwell’s strategic, creative and marketing expertise, we are helping brands create lasting business value at scale.”
Michael Treff, CEO of Code and Theory said, “By combining our technology, experience, and marketing expertise with Adobe’s platforms, we’re building solutions that are far more differentiated than what either of us could deliver alone. Take our first solution: most enterprises test creative after the fact when it’s too late to change anything meaningful. We flipped that – putting intelligence at the moment of creation, not after it. Each solution is built to solve a specific problem and deliver value immediately.”
About Stagwell
Stagwell is the global challenger network transforming marketing through AI. 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 40+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for our clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.
About The Code and Theory Network
Code and Theory is the digital transformation agency where the C-suite comes together to create change. Our differentiated balance of 50% creatives and 50% engineers at scale allows us to bring strategy, creativity and technology together in one integrated offering. This enables our clients to gain competitive advantages in how they operate, market and serve their customers. Code and Theory is Stagwell’s (STGW) digital transformation network, which includes its flagship agency, Code and Theory, along with Create. Group, Current, Instrument, Kettle, Left Field Labs and Truelogic. Code and Theory is the most decorated agency of the past three years, with 20 top agency honors, including Ad Age, Adweek and Fast Company. Our clients include Amazon, IBM, JPMorganChase, Microsoft, NBC and the NFL. For more, visit codeandtheory.com
Contact
Kara Gelber
PR@stagwellglobal.com
SOURCE: Stagwell
By: Ray Day
CONTACT:
We wanted to share our latest consumer and business insights, based on research from Stagwell and Allison Worldwide. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:
A GOOD PERSONALITY LANDS THE BEST JOBS
Personality might be the new hiring advantage, according to Harris Poll research with Express Employment Professionals.
- 91% of U.S. hiring managers say personality matters as much as skills today.
- 86% say it can outweigh a candidate’s skills gap.
- 78% of hiring managers and 72% of job seekers say personality also is important to thrive at a company – including promotions and landing the best jobs.
- 87% of hiring managers say they can tell from the first conversation whether a candidate will succeed.
- The ways candidates’ personalities are assessed include informal interactions (47%), situational questions (46%), behavioral interview questions (45%), reference checks (43%) and personality assessments (37%).
- See also: Americans are struggling to adapt in today’s workplace
GEN Z MOVING BACK HOME
Driven by underemployment and housing costs, a growing number of young Americans are moving back home with mom and dad and prioritizing fiscal responsibility, according to our Harris Poll research.
- 55% of Gen Z say they will be living with their parents again at some point because of the economy.
- 70% of 25- to 34-year-olds living back at home have jobs – yet still cannot afford to live on their own.
- More adults under 35 live with their parents today (25.2 million) than at the peak of the pandemic.
- 66% of Gen Z say they don’t want to rent, yet they see no realistic path to owning.
- 64% of Gen Z and 51% of Millennials say they would stay on their parents’ phone plan forever if they could.
- See also: First-time homebuyer payments rise 57% to $2,563
MORE TECH = MORE CAR SALES
Vehicle technology is increasingly driving purchase decisions and repeat buying – especially among Gen Z and Millennials, according to our Harris Poll 2026 AutoTECHCAST study.
- 79% of Gen Z and Millennial vehicle owners say the technology in their vehicle makes them more likely to buy from a brand again, up 14 percentage points since 2016.
- Tech-driven loyalty is rising across generations, with 72% of Gen X owners saying vehicle tech makes them more likely to repurchase from the brand (+15 points), compared with 61% of Boomers (+6 points).
- 78% of Gen Z and Millennials say in-car tech played a large role in selecting their current vehicle – up 20 points since 2016.
- Blind-spot alerts are the most sought-after driver-assist feature (42% of buyers), ahead of forward-collision alerts (30%) and pedestrian/cyclist alerts (27%).
- Gen Z’s fastest-growing interests are battery-electric engines (+19.2 points), vehicle-to-vehicle communication (+17.2) and EV/fuel route planning (+15.6).
AMERICANS WATCH THEIR CREDIT SCORES
Americans are actively monitoring their credit, yet widespread misconceptions and knowledge gaps remain – especially among Gen, according to Harris Poll and FICO.
- 89% of Americans took at least one action to improve their financial health in the past year, including 56% who checked their credit score – up from 49% in 2024.
- 72% check their credit score multiple times a year, up from 69% in 2024.
- 11% do not know where to find their credit score, rising to 17% among Gen Z.
- 17% lack the knowledge or tools to improve their score, including 27% of Gen Z, 19% of Millennials, 16% of Gen X and 10% of Boomers.
- 84% say maintaining or improving their credit score will be a priority in 2027, with 45% calling it a major priority.
- See also: Mounting Financial Pressures Threaten the Retirement of Middle-Class Americans
ICYMI: In case you missed it, check out the thought-leadership and happenings around Stagwell making news:
- Allison and HarrisX release Gen Alpha Household Influence Study (Allison, HarrisX)
- Consumers trust AI with shampoo. They don’t trust it with menstrual care (Harris Poll)
- Women are less likely to hear about, talk about and use AI (National Research Group)
- As America Turns 250, Do Americans Feel the American Dream Is Alive? (HarrisX)
- Americans aren’t divided on values. But values are layered (National Research Group)
- Your Media List for AI Is Not the Same as Your Media List for People (Allison, Marcel Goldstein)
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Award-winning creative leader brings over two decades of experience spanning brand, digital, campaigns, film, and emerging technology.
PORTLAND, OR / ACCESS Newswire / August 24, 2026 / Instrument, a Stagwell (STGW) company and part of the Code and Theory Network, today announced that Jack De Caluwé has joined the agency as Chief Creative Officer. De Caluwé returns to Instrument after previously spending nearly nine years at the agency, where he helped shape its creative culture and some of its defining work.
As Chief Creative Officer, De Caluwé will lead Instrument’s creative work across brand, product, digital experiences, campaigns and emerging technology. He will partner with executive leadership to evolve Instrument’s creative direction, mentor and develop talent, deepen relationships with executive clients, and raise the creative bar across the organization. Most recently, he served as Executive Creative Director at R/GA.
Over the course of his career, De Caluwé has led creative for some of the world’s most influential brands, including Nike, Apple, The New York Times, Patagonia, Netflix, Stripe, Dropbox and Uber, with a global career spanning Australia, Europe, and the United States. His work has earned recognition from the Webby Awards, CLIO Awards and The One Show, among others. While previously at Instrument, De Caluwé helped lead programs for clients, including:
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Electronic Arts (EA): Evolved EA into a flexible, future-ready brand platform built to stay recognizable and coherent as technologies, experiences, and audience expectations evolve.
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Google: Helped lead creative across Google, pushing the brand into new territory across product, campaigns, and experiences.
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Notion: Led the creative work on “For Your Life’s Work,” Notion’s first international brand campaign, positioning the platform for both work and life across North America, Europe, and Asia.
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ServiceNow: Led the development of a distinct agentic AI identity and scalable design system, positioning ServiceNow as a leader in enterprise AI across products, partners, and platforms.
Instrument has spent 20 years at the intersection of creativity and technology, helping organizations navigate change and unlock new opportunities for growth. In 2026, it was named Design Studio of the Year at the Campaign US Agency of the Year Awards. Instrument has also recently added to its senior creative team: Terence Hobson, Group Executive Creative Director, Brand Studio, joining from EA SPORTS, and Yan Sze Li, Group Executive Creative Director, Product Studio, joining from M·A·C Cosmetics.
De Caluwé says: “We’re in one of those rare moments where the canvas is being stretched in every direction. Technology is opening up new ways to make things, culture is evolving in real time, and creativity has never had more room to surprise people. I wanted to be somewhere that sees that as an invitation rather than a disruption. Instrument is that place. I want us to be a studio where you can feel something is always happening. The kind of place people keep bookmarked for when they need a reminder of what’s possible. A place willing to take big swings, make things with real character, attract restless talent, and chase ideas into unexpected places. That’s the creative practice I want to build and the role I want Instrument to play in whatever comes next.”
Laurel Burton, CEO of Instrument, says: “Jack is a force multiplier for ingenuity and innovation, always pushing beyond familiar patterns to create space for unexpected ideas. That’s the role we want to play for our partners: challenging conventional thinking to create iconic work. With Jack returning to Instrument, we’re not only advancing our clients’ work, but strengthening our creative identity, attracting top talent and increasing the creative force we bring to every partnership.”
About Instrument
Instrument is a design and technology company. We build brands, products, and experiences guided by one belief: make the complex simple. For more than 20 years, we’ve partnered with companies like Google, Nike, Electronic Arts, ServiceNow, Uber, and ŌURA. We use technology with intent-applying tools like AI to deepen the work and move faster, without losing what makes it good. Instrument is a part of the Code and Theory Network, Stagwell’s (STGW) digital transformation network.
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Carly Ross
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SOURCE: Stagwell
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IR Contact:
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / August 17, 2026 / Stagwell Inc. (NASDAQ:STGW), the global challenger network transforming marketing through AI, today announced its participation in several upcoming investor conferences in August and September 2026.
Management is available for meetings throughout the day at the following conferences:
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August 19 – Virtual – Seaport 15th Annual Summer Investor Conference
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September 8 – San Francisco – Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference
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September 10 – New York City – StoneX’s 13th Annual Tech/Media/Telecom (TMT) One-on-One Conference
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September 10 – New York City – B. Riley Securities 8th Annual Consumer & TMT Conference
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September 15 – London – Goldman Sachs European Communacopia Conference
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September 30 – Phoenix – Deutsche Bank 34th Annual Leveraged Finance Conference
Visit stagwellglobal.com/investors to view upcoming investor events and programming from Stagwell. Reach out to ir@stagwellglobal.com with questions.
About Stagwell
Stagwell is the global challenger network transforming marketing through AI. 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 40+ 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
PR Contact:
Lena Petersen
pr@stagwellglobal.com
By: Ray Day
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We wanted to share our latest consumer and business insights, based on research from Stagwell and Allison Worldwide. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:
PUTTING LIFE ON HOLD
Financial pressures are pushing young people to delay – and sometimes doubt they’ll ever reach – milestones like homeownership, marriage and parenthood, according to Harris Poll research with Northwestern Mutual.
- 72% of Gen Z and 56% of Millennials say financial challenges have caused them to delay at least one major life milestone.
- A similar amount (71% of Gen Z and 60% of Millennials) worry they might never be able to afford at least one major milestone.
- 31% of Gen Z and 24% of Millennials have delayed buying a house, while 24% of Gen Z and 14% of Millennials have delayed having children.
- 20% of Gen Z and 11% of Millennials have delayed getting married.
- Nearly half of Gen Z (46%) and a third (32%) of Millennials feel pessimistic about the impact of AI on their careers.
- Among Gen Z and Millennial parents, more than 7 in 10 say they spend as much or more on their children each month as they do on rent or a mortgage.
- Gen Z started saving for retirement at 22 on average, while Millennials started at 28.
- See also: Forget FOMO: Fear of financial regret is keeping younger Americans at home on Saturday night
AI SKEPTICISM AT SCHOOL
While enthusiasm for AI in education is cooling, students say AI is helping them be more efficient and less stressed, according to our Allison Worldwide research for Quizlet’s How America Learns 2026 report.
- 30% of students and teachers say they have a positive attitude toward AI in education, down sharply from 43% in 2025 and 40% in 2024.
- 6 in 10 students say AI has made them more efficient than last year, and 37% say it has reduced stress around schoolwork.
- Among high school students, 41% say AI has reduced school-related stress, and 22% say it has helped them get more sleep.
- 18% of students feel very confident in their studying progress, while 23% are often unsure whether they’re focusing on the right things.
- 33% of students, teachers and parents say schools are not adequately preparing students for success beyond the classroom, only a slight improvement from 36% in 2025.
- See also: Americans don’t want AI doctors. They want AI doctor-friends
WORKERS WANT A WAY UP
Employees are eager to grow at their current companies, yet many lack a clear roadmap to advancement, reports our Harris Poll survey with EdAssist by Bright Horizons.
- 77% of employed workers say they’d prefer to stay with their current employer if clear internal advancement opportunities exist.
- 83% say they are motivated to learn new skills to advance their careers, yet nearly half (47%) say they don’t know where to begin.
- Among employees who’ve used workplace education benefits, 50% say they gained skills that helped in their current role, and 40% say those new skills helped advance their career.
- 71% wish their employer provided clearer steps to reach the next role.
- While 64% say their manager is involved in guiding skill development, only 33% say they’ve had a conversation in the past year about building relevant skills.
ICYMI: In case you missed it, check out the thought-leadership and happenings around Stagwell making news:
- Gen Z has made discount brands cool (Harris Poll)
- Why brands need a PR plan for people and a PR plan for machines (Allison and Marcel Goldstein)
- Among the most active AI users, 43% worry AI will spread misinformation and 28% worry it will make society more unequal (Harris Poll)
- Uncertainty Is Reshaping How People Travel, Not Whether They Travel (HarrisX, Allison and Booking.com)
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Stagwell Strengthens Assembly Leadership with Two Key CEO Appointments
Kaplan joins Stagwell’s Board of Directors as the company builds on significant new business momentum and accelerated growth led by digital transformation
NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / August 5, 2026 / Stagwell (NASDAQ:STGW), the global challenger network transforming marketing through AI, today announced the appointment of Beth J. Kaplan to its Board of Directors.
Kaplan is a seasoned corporate director and senior executive with more than three decades of leadership experience across consumer, retail, and brand-driven businesses. She brings extensive operating and board governance expertise to both public and private companies. She previously served as President, Chief Operating Officer and a director of Rent the Runway (NASDAQ: RENT). Prior to that, she was President and Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer of GNC, where she played an integral role in the company’s IPO. Earlier in her career, she held senior leadership positions at Procter & Gamble. She currently serves on the boards of Crocs, Inc. (NASDAQ: CROX), Brilliant Earth Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: BRLT), The Vitamin Shoppe, and Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants.
“Beth has built an extraordinary career leading iconic brands, guiding high-growth companies and serving on the boards of some of the most respected businesses in the consumer and retail sectors,” said Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO of Stagwell. “Her expertise in brand building, corporate governance, and value creation comes at a pivotal moment for Stagwell as we accelerate our growth, expand our cutting-edge capabilities and further establish ourselves as the challenger network.”
Kaplan joins Stagwell’s Board during a period of significant new business momentum and accelerated growth, as the company continues to expand its AI-powered solutions and digital transformation capabilities. Her appointment further strengthens the Board’s expertise as Stagwell advances its next chapter of innovation at the intersection of technology and creativity.
“Stagwell has built a truly differentiated platform that combines creative excellence, media expertise, digital transformation and AI-driven innovation to meet the evolving needs of today’s brands,” said Kaplan. “The company’s new business momentum, continued innovation and vision for the future make this an especially exciting time to join the Board. I look forward to supporting Stagwell as it continues to redefine modern marketing, deliver value for clients and create long-term growth for shareholders.”
About Stagwell
Stagwell is the global challenger network transforming marketing through AI. 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 45+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for our clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.
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