Originally Released On

PR Newswire

Contact:

Kara Gelber

pr@stagwellglobal.com

Bringing nearly four decades of experience in data and artificial intelligence, Kahan joins Stagwell at a pivotal time for growth at the challenger network

NEW YORK, April 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), the challenger network built to transform marketing, today announced the appointment of John Kahan as the network’s inaugural Chief AI Officer. Reporting into Mark Penn, Stagwell Chairman and CEO, Kahan will spearhead the integration and development of artificial intelligence across Stagwell’s global network.

Kahan brings nearly four decades of experience in data and artificial intelligence, spanning product development, marketing, and sales, as well as strategic counsel to CEOs and senior executives from his tenure at Microsoft and IBM. Kahan most recently served as Vice President and Chief Data Analytics Officer at Microsoft where he played a fundamental role in the development of several key data platforms and insights that were integral to transforming Microsoft into the $3 trillion company it is today.

“Kahan’s leadership will be key in driving our AI initiatives forward, ensuring we continue to provide unparalleled value to our clients,” commented Penn. “His extensive background from Microsoft and IBM aligns perfectly with our vision to lead the industry in technological innovation.”

Kahan remarked on his new role: “I’m especially excited to be joining at such a pivotal time for the challenger network. The pace of innovation in AI and marketing technology is accelerating like never before, and Stagwell is committed to pushing boundaries that will drive meaningful transformation for the industry at large.”

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 40+ 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:

For Investors:
Ben Allanson
IR@stagwellglobal.com 

For Press:
Kara Gelber 

PR@stagwellglobal.com  

NEW YORK, April 2, 2025 – Today, Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), the challenger network built to transform marketing, will host its 2025 Investor Day virtually during which executives will outline the company’s vision and strategic priorities for its next phase of growth. In conjunction with Investor Day, Stagwell will announce initiatives targeting $5 billion in annual revenue by the end of 2029, a plan to implement $80 to $100 million of cost savings, and simplifying its capital structure. 

A livestream of the virtual Investor Day will be available starting at 10 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) today (April 2, 2025). To register for or join the live broadcast, visit https://stagwellinvestorday2025.splashthat.com/. A recording will be available after the webcast at https://www.stagwellglobal.com.  

Today’s sessions will include presentations from Stagwell Chairman and CEO Mark Penn, Chief Financial Officer Frank Lanuto, Chief Investment Officer Jason Reid, and additional leaders from across the diverse portfolio, as well as sessions on Stagwell’s growth drivers and a Q&A. 

“We are holding this Investor Day because I think Phase I of our growth is now complete and we are entering Phase II that will take us to the next level,” shared Penn. “Three years ago, many doubted we would be at this nearly $3B level. We proved them wrong. We are today the world’s fastest-growing major advertising holding company.” 

• $5 Billion Revenue Target by End of 2029: Stagwell will unveil its “5 x 5” initiative for its next phase of growth: $5 billion in revenue and $1 billion in adjusted EBITDA within the next five years. The company plans to achieve this ambitious goal without expanding debt ratios. 

• $80 to $100 Million of Cost Savings: Stagwell has identified approximately $80 to $100 million of cost-saving opportunities largely coming from the implementation of AI-driven technologies that it believes will allow employees to work more efficiently. These initiatives are expected to be fully implemented over the next 18 to 24 months, with $60 to $70 million of the cost saving steps completed by the end of 2025 and reflected in FY26 results. The company plans to implement the remainder of the savings by the end of 2026. These steps will have a meaningful impact on adjusted EBITDA. 

• Simplifying Capital Structure: The two-class share structure is being eliminated with conversion of all Class C shares to Class A publicly traded common stock. This change will result in a simplified capital structure with only a single class of outstanding common stock and that should make the stock more attractive to additional indexes and funds.  

• Restructuring of the Business Units: Stagwell is in the process of reorganizing its lines of business internally and externally to be more in line with how clients buy Stagwell’s services and products today. The adjusted reporting lines are expected to be: Marketing Services; Media and Commerce; Advocacy, which includes political and nonpolitical communications; Digital Transformation; and the Stagwell Marketing Cloud. It is anticipated that financial reporting will be streamlined under this new structure when the changes go into effect later this year. 

• Enhancing Data with Palantir: Stagwell is partnering with Palantir to combine the capabilities of the Stagwell ID Graph with Palantir’s tools to enhance performance media targeting using Palantir’s advanced data analysis and AI capabilities. This comes on top of the partnership with Adobe to deploy advanced content management that together will be part of the suite of new data and content services that will be offered to clients later this year. 

• Stagwell’s Inaugural Chief AI Officer: Stagwell will appoint John Kahan as the network’s inaugural Chief AI Officer. Reporting to Penn, Kahan will spearhead the integration and development of artificial intelligence across Stagwell’s global network. Kahan brings nearly four decades of experience in data and artificial intelligence from his tenure at Microsoft and IBM.  

• Affirming Full Year 2025 Guidance: Stagwell will reiterate guidance after encouraging data from the first two months of the year. Full year guidance for FY25 is: 

• • Approximately 8% total growth in net revenue;   

• • Adjusted EBITDA between $410 million to $460 million;   

• • Free cash flow conversion in excess of 45%;    

• • Adjusted earnings per share between $0.75 to $0.88.   

• • Guidance includes anticipated impact from acquisitions or dispositions. 

### 

Video Webcast 

Stagwell’s 2025 Virtual Investor Day broadcast will begin at 10 a.m. ET, and a recording will be available at www.stagwellglobal.com/investors after the conclusion of the livestream.  

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 40+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for our clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.     

Contacts: 

For Investors:  
Ben Allanson 
IR@stagwellglobal.com 

For Press: 
Kara Gelber 

PR@stagwellglobal.com  

 ### 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures 

Stagwell Inc. has included in this press release information regarding certain targeted financial figures that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) defines as “non-GAAP financial measures.” Management believes that such non-GAAP financial measures, when read in conjunction with the Company’s reported results, can provide useful supplemental information for investors analyzing period to period comparisons of the Company’s results. The non-GAAP financial measures used by the Company include the following: 

(1) Organic Net Revenue: “Organic net revenue growth” and “Organic net revenue decline” reflects the year-over-year change in the Company’s reported net revenue attributable to the Company’s management of the entities it owns. We calculate organic net revenue growth (decline) by subtracting the net impact of acquisitions (divestitures) and the impact of foreign currency exchange fluctuations from the aggregate year-over-year increase or decrease in the Company’s reported net revenue. The net impact of acquisitions (divestitures) reflects the year-over-year change in the Company’s reported net revenue attributable to the impact of all individual entities that were acquired or divested in the current and prior year. We calculate impact of an acquisition as follows: (a) for an entity acquired during the current year, we present the entity’s prior year net revenue for the same period during which we owned it in the current year as impact of the acquisition in the current year; and (b) for an entity acquired in the prior year, we present the entity’s prior year net revenue for the period during which we did not own the entity in the prior year as impact of the acquisition in the current year. We calculate impact of a divestiture as follows: (a) for a divestiture in the current year, we present the entity’s prior year net revenue for the same period during which we no longer owned it in the current year as impact of the divestiture in the current year; and (b) for a divestiture in the prior year, we present the entity’s prior year net revenue for the period during which we owned it in the prior year as impact of the divestiture in the current year. We calculate the impact of any acquisition or divestiture without adjusting for foreign currency exchange fluctuations. The impact of foreign currency exchange fluctuations reflects the year-over-year change in the Company’s reported net revenue attributable to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We calculate the impact of foreign currency exchange fluctuations for the portion of the reporting period in which we recognized revenue from a foreign entity in both the current year and the prior year. The impact is calculated as the difference between (1) reported prior period net revenue (converted to U.S. dollars at historical foreign currency exchange rates) and (2) prior period net revenue converted to U.S. dollars at current period foreign exchange rates. 

(2) Net New Business: Estimate of annualized revenue for new wins less annualized revenue for losses incurred in the period. 

(3) Adjusted EBITDA: defined as Net income excluding non-operating income or expense to achieve operating income, plus depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, deferred acquisition consideration adjustments, and other items. Other items include restructuring costs, acquisition-related expenses, and non-recurring items. 

(4) Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share is defined as (i) Net income (loss) attributable to Stagwell Inc. common shareholders, plus net income attributable to Class C shareholders, excluding amortization expense, impairment and other losses, stock-based compensation, deferred acquisition consideration adjustments, discrete tax items, and other items, divided by (ii) (a) the per weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus (b) the weighted average number of Class C shares outstanding, (if dilutive). Other items include restructuring costs, acquisition-related expenses, and non-recurring items, and are subject to the anti-dilution rules. 

(5) Free Cash Flow: defined as Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures, change in net working capital, cash taxes, interest, and distributions to minority interests, but excludes contingent M&A payments. Free Cash Flow Conversion is free cash flow as a percentage of adjusted EBITDA. 

Forward-Looking Statements 

This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The Company’s representatives may also make forward-looking statements orally or in writing from time to time. Statements in this document that are not historical facts constitute forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, future financial performance, including its 2025 financial guidance, long-term financial targets and leverage, growth, and future prospects, the Company’s strategy, including with respect to artificial intelligence, business and economic trends and growth, technological leadership and differentiation, including the Company’s partnership with Palantir, potential and completed acquisitions, anticipated and actual cost saving opportunities (and the Company’s ability to achieve such cost savings), and changes in the Company’s capital structure. Forward-looking statements, which are generally denoted by words such as “ability,” “aim,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “build,” “consider,” “continue,” “could,” “create,” “develop,” “drive,” “estimate,” “expect,” “focus,” “forecast,” “foresee,” “future,” “goal,” “guidance,” “in development,” “intend,” “likely,” “look,” “maintain,” “may,” “ongoing,” “opportunity,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “probable,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” or the negative of such terms or other variations thereof and terms of similar substance used in connection with any discussion of current plans, estimates and projections are subject to change based on a number of factors, including those outlined in this section. 

Forward-looking statements in this document are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although the management of the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. The material assumptions upon which such forward-looking statements are based include, among others, assumptions with respect to general business, economic and market conditions, the competitive environment, anticipated and unanticipated tax consequences and anticipated and unanticipated costs. These forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and are subject to change based on a number of factors, including those outlined in this section. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the Company’s control. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance on such statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any of them in light of new information or future events, if any. 

Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Such risk factors include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• risks associated with international, national and regional unfavorable economic conditions that could affect the Company or its clients; 

• demand for the Company’s services, which may precipitate or exacerbate other risks and uncertainties; 

• inflation and actions taken by central banks to counter inflation; 

• the Company’s ability to attract new clients and retain existing clients; 

• the impact of a reduction in client spending and changes in client advertising, marketing and corporate communications requirements; 

• financial failure of the Company’s clients; 

• the Company’s ability to retain and attract key employees; 

• the Company’s ability to compete in the markets in which it operates; 

• the Company’s ability to achieve its cost saving initiatives; 

• the Company’s implementation of strategic initiatives; 

• the Company’s ability to remain in compliance with its debt agreements and the Company’s ability to finance its contingent payment obligations when due and payable, including but not limited to those relating to redeemable noncontrolling interests and deferred acquisition consideration; 

• the Company’s ability to manage its growth effectively; 

• the Company’s ability to identify and complete acquisitions or other strategic transactions that complement and expand the Company’s business capabilities and successfully integrate newly acquired businesses into the Company’s operations, retain key employees, and realize expected cost savings, synergies and other related anticipated benefits within the expected time period; 

• the Company’s ability to identify and complete divestitures and to achieve the anticipated benefits therefrom; 

• the Company’s ability to develop products incorporating new technologies, including augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality, and realize benefits from such products; 

• the Company’s use of artificial intelligence, including generative artificial intelligence; 

• adverse tax consequences for the Company, its operations and its stockholders, that may differ from the expectations of the Company, including that future changes in tax laws, potential increases to corporate tax rates in the United States and disagreements with tax authorities on the Company’s determinations that may result in increased tax costs; 

• adverse tax consequences in connection with the business combination that formed the Company in August 2021, including the incurrence of material Canadian federal income tax (including material “emigration tax”); 

• the Company’s ability to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, including the risk that the Company’s internal controls will fail to detect misstatements in its financial statements; 

• the Company’s ability to accurately forecast its future financial performance and provide accurate guidance; 

• the Company’s ability to protect client data from security incidents or cyberattacks; 

• economic disruptions resulting from war and other geopolitical tensions (such as the ongoing military conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and in the Middle East), terrorist activities, natural disasters, and public health events; 

• stock price volatility; and 

• foreign currency fluctuations. 

Investors should carefully consider these risk factors and the additional risk factors outlined in more detail in our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 11, 2025, and accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, under the caption “Risk Factors,” and in the Company’s other SEC filings. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 

Originally Released On

PR Newswire

Contact:

Carrie Hsu
pr@stagwellglobal.com

Originally Released On

PR Newswire

Contact:

Madi Wick

pr@stagwellglobal.com

Stagwell Announces Goal to Increase 2025 Ad Spend in News Media by 22% Year-Over-Year

Announcement timed to today’s second annual Future of News UK summit and the release of research fielded among 500+ EMEA CEOs and Board Directors

89% of EMEA CEOs and Board Directors follow the news closely, reading an average of five articles per day

LONDON, March 20, 2025 – Today, Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) announced its commitment to increase 2025 ad spend in news by 22% year-over-year. This announcement is timed to Stagwell’s second annual Future of News UK summit and the release of new data revealing EMEA CEOs and Board Directors view news as a powerful medium to reach key stakeholders.

“At Stagwell, we believe supporting trusted journalism isn’t just good for society — it’s smart business,” said Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO of Stagwell. “The data continues to back that up, which is why we’re doubling down on our commitment with a significant increase in news ad spend for 2025.”

Stagwell launched the Future of News initiative with the goal of reinvigorating the relationship between news and marketing through research, events and informed discussion around brand safety. This latest study conducted by Stagwell’s research consultancy HarrisX and fielded among more than 500 EMEA CEOs and Board Directors across the UK, France, Germany and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), underscores business leaders overwhelmingly value the importance of news media as a powerful advertising tool.

EMEA CEOs and Board Directors Consider Media to be Vital, Share Global Trust Concerns

• 80% think news media gives companies a powerful medium to reach their stakeholders.
• 73% of UK CEOs and Board Directors think news media is critical to democracy, as do 82% of GCC CEOs and Board Directors.

EMEA CEOs and Board Directors Want Their Companies to Advertise More on News Media

• Overall, 85% believe advertising on news media is a good investment.
• In the GCC, 92% say advertising on news media is a good investment.
• EMEA CEOs and Board Directors believe advertising on news media will have the greatest positive reputational impact among the general public (86%) and financial investors (86%).

Brand Safety is an Industry Standard but its Application is Too Broad

• While only 9% of EMEA CEOs and Board Directors say safety protocols should not be used at all, a majority (71%) believe brand safety protocols are overapplied to the point of hurting media outlets and advertisers.
• 26% of CEOs and Board Directors in Germany think brand safety protocols should be used across all types/sources of news media, but the sentiment is much higher in France (47%) and the GCC (51%).

“This study illustrates that despite the noise around brand safety, AI and politics, EMEA business leaders recognize the significant impact news media has on effective advertising,” said James Townsend, Stagwell EMEA CEO.

Tonight, Stagwell will host panel discussions at its EMEA headquarters in London. Industry leaders from CNN International, Newsquest, The Sunday Times, and more will take the stage to discuss how journalists are breaking down barriers, holding truth to power, and shedding light on the issues that matter most. For more information about Stagwell’s initiative and to get involved, visit stagwellglobal.com/future-of-news/.

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 40+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for our clients. Join us at StagwellGlobal.com.

Contact:
Madi Wick

PR@StagwellGlobal.com

Originally Released On

PR Newswire

Contact:

Stagwell
Kara Gelber
PR@stagwellglobal.com

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

Stagwell’s Code and Theory accelerates the content supply chain for brands, driving innovation across customer experience to digital experience platforms.

NEW YORK and LAS VEGAS, March 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In an era where AI is fundamentally reshaping digital experiences, Code and Theory is boldly redefining industry boundaries with its new Enterprise Experience Transformation practice. Led by Chief Transformation Officer Cory Haldeman, this strategic expansion represents more than a new service offering — it’s a comprehensive response to the market’s evolving needs. The practice will launch at Adobe Summit, during which Code and Theory will showcase its value realization solutions to accelerate GenAI’s transformative impact on customer experience.

Drawing on over two decades of digital innovation, Code and Theory pioneers solutions that translate AI’s possibilities into measurable business outcomes and extraordinary customer experiences.

At Adobe Summit (March 18-20), Code and Theory will showcase its Enterprise Experience System (EXS) framework through the lens of a new sports team, show how the new system unlocks experiences at scale that go beyond traditional engagement, and explore how they can help accelerate client’s investments in Content Supply Chain and Generative AI programs.

In Code and Theory’s booth at Adobe Summit, attendees will see:

1. Enterprise Experience Systems | The Foundation of Real Personalization: The EXS framework unlocks experiences at scale that go beyond transactional engagement.
2. Exposing the Personalization Gap | Moving Beyond Industry Hype: We’ll address the tendency for personalization to be oversold yet underdelivered, emphasizing deeper relevance by unifying brand identity, user needs and technology.
3. Foundational First | Uncover How Brand Identity & CX Feeds AI: Before adopting advanced tech solutions, brands must define their core identity and the “jobs to be done” before activating the AI strategy — ensuring meaningful personalization at scale.

Stagwell’s Code and Theory Network is a first-time Diamond sponsor at Adobe Summit and will bring the flavor of SPORT BEACH, the premiere sports business destination Stagwell built for brands, platforms and athletes to tap into the cultural zeitgeist of sport and explore the power of fandom. At the summit, Stagwell and Code and Theory will host Carmelo Anthony, 10-time NBA All-Star, entrepreneur and philanthropist, and Kelsey Plum, a WNBA champion, for a series of brand marketer meetings and a public session on how creativity and technology are revolutionizing the way brands connect with audiences.

While AI dissolves the traditional lines between consulting, systems integration and creative agencies, Code and Theory’s practice doesn’t just bridge these artificial silos — it replaces them with a unified approach that seamlessly integrates strategic vision, technical implementation and creative innovation.

Cory Haldeman, Chief Transformation Officer at Code and Theory, says: “Most companies use AI like an intelligent spellcheck — focused on making incremental improvements to existing processes. But true transformation requires reevaluating what’s possible. Adobe’s approach with Firefly exemplifies this mindset by democratizing creativity. At Code and Theory, we’re applying this same transformative thinking across the entire enterprise experience, not just enhancing existing systems but fundamentally redefining how brands connect with customers through AI-powered customer experience.”

Dan Gardner, Co-Founder and Executive Chair of Code and Theory, says: “Our relationship with Adobe spans more than a decade, and we look forward to continuing client success through this partnership. As enterprises grapple with unprecedented complexity in their digital ecosystems, we’re combining our deep expertise in brand experience with Adobe’s powerful technology stack to help unlock the potential of our clients’ investment. This isn’t just about better creative tools or more efficient content delivery — it’s about reimagining how enterprises operate in an AI-powered world and building the foundation for experiences that just weren’t possible before.”

“Successful digital transformations aren’t just about implementing technology—they’re about reimagining how businesses create value for their customers,” said Hannah Elsakr, President of New Business at Adobe. “Code and Theory and the Stagwell network have holistic vision, combining strategic insight with technical and creative excellence. Their expanded focus perfectly complements Adobe’s mission to change the world through digital experiences, and we look forward to the continued evolution of our partnership.”

If you’ll be at Adobe Summit and wish to set up a meeting with Cory Haldeman, Chief Transformation Officer at Code and Theory, email meetings@codeandtheory.com.

About The Code and Theory Network
The Code and Theory Network is the only technology and creative network with a balance of 50% creative and 50% engineers. Our unique makeup makes us the place where CMOs, CTOs and CIOs come together to drive results for their businesses. We partner with our clients to redefine what is possible to create lasting impact and drive long-term growth. Part of Stagwell, Code and Theory offers a global footprint and the capabilities to work across the entirety of the customer-facing journey, and implement the technology that powers it. The network includes the flagship agency Code and Theory as well as Kettle, Instrument, Left Field Labs, Truelogic, Create. Group, Rhythm and Mediacurrent. Code and Theory clients include Amazon, JPMorganChase, Microsoft, NBC, NFL and Yeti. For more, visit codeandtheory.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 40+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for our clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.   

Contacts:

Stagwell
Kara Gelber
PR@stagwellglobal.com 

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

Originally Released On

PR Newswire

Contact:

Kenneth Hein
kenneth.hein@codeandtheory.com

The creative and technology network was honored twice based upon its transformational work for NBC, NFL, Minnesota Star Tribune and other top clients.

NEW YORK, March 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Code and Theory, part of Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), has been named to Fast Company’s prestigious list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2025, twice. The only technology and creative network with a balance of 50% creative and 50% engineers, Code and Theory partners with its clients to redefine what is possible to create lasting impact and drive long-term growth.

Code and Theory was honored within both Fast Company’s Design and Teamwork categories. Fast Company created the special Teamwork list this year to honor the most innovative companies that demonstrated a high degree of collaboration in developing new products, ideas and strategies, either by bringing together internal teams or partnering with outside organizations to realize their innovations. Code and Theory was recognized for its partnership with The Minnesota Star Tribune for transforming the news experience.

This recognition places Code and Theory among industry giants like Waymo, Nvidia, Duolingo — companies that are driving innovation, redefining industry standards and reaching remarkable milestones. 

Code and Theory is reshaping industries, including finance, publishing, sports and government, setting new standards for innovation. In 2024 alone, the network’s creative work drove bold, measurable results for its clients. For example, Code and Theory:

• Amid widespread misinformation, cyber threats and political polarization, Code and Theory rebuilt NBC’s Big Board from the ground up, ensuring it delivered meticulously verified, real-time election data and transformed complex statistics into clear, engaging narratives. The Big Board (and on-air data analyst Steve Kornacki) propelled MSNBC to its most viewers in network history surpassing rival CNN. See the case study.
• Transformed the NFL app from a static tool into a dynamic, fan-first experience that reflects the league’s energy and boldness. The relaunched app drives over 5 million weekly users, and fans streamed more than 2.3 billion minutes worth of games last year (that’s more than 10x the Netflix catalog). Explore the case study.
• In less than six months, Code and Theory delivered a comprehensive transformation for the Minnesota Star Tribune: a modern digital experience that’s more accessible for younger readers, created new premium opportunities for advertisers, and leveraged best-in-class technology to build the system so it can all flex for the future. Less than 24 hours after launch, The Minnesota Star Tribune hit 32% of its monthly subscriber goal. Read all about it here.
• Built, designed and launched YETI’s newest brand experience, Plan Your Wildest Year Yet. This interactive platform empowers adventure seekers everywhere to generate their very own custom calendar of global outdoor events to kick off 2025 right. The 28% “Add to Calendar” rate was 25% over the industry benchmark for campaign website engagement and made for hundreds of thousands of events added, proving YETI tapped into real outdoor demand. See the award-winning work.

Code and Theory continues to drive impact with the launch of its new Enterprise Experience Transformation (EXT) practice. Debuting at Adobe Summit today, this strategic initiative will solve a critically overlooked market challenge: the siloed consulting ecosystem, leaving businesses dangerously unprepared for AI disruption. Adriana Rubio, who built the world’s largest Adobe practice during her tenure at Accenture, joined Code and Theory as managing director of the EXT practice earlier this month.

Code and Theory Co-Founder and Executive Chairman Dan Gardner says, “Being recognized for our teamwork with the Minnesota Star Tribune is a particular honor. We’ve built Code and Theory around talent with different skill sets from Deloitte to Cosmopolitan to the White House. Our leaders thrive at bringing our clients’ entire C-suite together. This is the secret to our innovative culture, which is obsessively focused on solving for tomorrow’s opportunities.” 

Code and Theory was named Ad Age’s B2B Agency of the Year last week and has also been named Digiday’s Most Innovative Company among other honors.

Code and Theory CEO Michael Treff says, “Innovation isn’t just about the big ideas. It’s about executing them in ways that drive measurable impact. Our ability to merge design and technology has delivered tangible outcomes for our clients, helping them solve complex challenges and achieve long-term growth. By always focusing on the customer experience first, we can unlock innovation that drives business results.”

Fast Company Editor-in-Chief Brendan Vaughan says, “Our list of the Most Innovative Companies offers both a comprehensive look at innovation today and a playbook for the future. This year, we recognize companies that are harnessing AI in deep and meaningful ways, brands that are turning customers into superfans by overdelivering for them and challengers that are introducing bold ideas and vital competition to their industries. At a time when the world is rapidly shifting, these companies are charting the way forward.”

About The Code and Theory Network
The Code and Theory Network is the only technology and creative network with a balance of 50% creative and 50% engineers. Our unique makeup makes us the place where CMOs, CTOs and CIOs come together to drive results for their businesses. We partner with our clients to redefine what is possible to create lasting impact and drive long-term growth. Part of Stagwell, Code and Theory offers a global footprint and the capabilities to work across the entirety of the customer-facing journey and implement the technology that powers it. The network includes the flagship agency Code and Theory as well as Kettle, Instrument, Left Field Labs, Truelogic, Create. Group, Rhythm and Mediacurrent. Code and Theory clients include Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, NBC, NFL and Yeti. For more, visit codeandtheory.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 40+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for our clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

CONTACT:
Kenneth Hein
kenneth.hein@codeandtheory.com

Originally Released On

PR Newswire

Contact:

Kara Gelber

pr@stagwellglobal.com

This year’s programming will inspire conversations surrounding every facet of sport

NEW YORK and AUSTIN, Texas, March 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), the challenger network built to transform marketing, today announced a new roster of athletes and brand partners confirmed to activate at SPORT BEACH 2025.

Throughout the year, Stagwell is expanding SPORT BEACH’s presence by bringing SPORT BEACH Clubhouses to major industry and sporting events worldwide.

“Our Clubhouses at SXSW, Super Bowl and the World Economic Forum reinforced how sport is a door opener into conversations driving the business, cultural and innovation landscape, and how important it is to be having these conversations now,” said Beth Sidhu, Stagwell’s Chief Brand and Communications Officer.

Newly Announced 2025 Athlete & Media Partners

• Jordan Chiles (gymnastics) – Jordan Chiles is a renowned gymnast and two-time Olympian. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she helped secure a silver medal for Team USA with a standout performance. A passionate advocate for body positivity and mental health, Chiles inspires young athletes around the globe. In 2022, she became one of only three Black gymnasts to sweep the podium at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, and the following year, she earned two NCAA individual titles with UCLA while embarking on a new chapter as a Nike athlete. Returning to elite competition in 2024, Chiles played a key role in leading Team USA to a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, cementing her status as a trailblazer in the sport.
• Akbar Gbajabiamila (football and media) – Akbar Gbajabiamila, a returning partner to SPORT BEACH, is the current Host of NBC’s four-time Emmy-nominated series American Ninja Warrior, Emmy-nominated host of CBS’ hit show, The Talk, Roku’s newest original series, Fight To Survive, and he also joined NFL Network’s Good Morning Football for the 2024-2025 Season. Akbar also recently hosted the breakout hit, “Tokyo Live!” which debuted on Peacock and covered the Tokyo Olympics as well as hosting multiple seasons of American Ninja Warrior Jr and Team Ninja. Akbar’s critically acclaimed book “Everyone Can Be a Ninja: Find Your Inner Warrior and Achieve Your Dreams,” aims to encourage readers to never give up no matter the obstacle. Akbar is honored to leverage his formidable professional platform to inspire and motivate others as well as advocate for those in need. Currently, he serves on the board for the Asomugha Foundation, which provides pathways to college for disenfranchised youth, as well as for The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
• Emma Hayes (coach) – Emma Hayes is one of the most influential and accomplished football managers of her generation, known for her leadership and transformative impact on the women’s game. With a coaching career spanning over two decades, she has played a pivotal role in shaping modern football and driving the professionalization of the sport. As the head coach of Chelsea Women from 2012 to 2024, Hayes led the club to unprecedented success, securing seven Women’s Super League (WSL) titles, five FA Cups, two League Cups, and a UEFA Women’s Champions League final appearance. Under her leadership, Chelsea became a dominant force in both English and European football, known for their attacking style, depth of talent, and winning mentality. In 2024, Hayes took on a historic new role as head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT), bringing her strategic expertise and elite-level experience to one of the most successful teams in international football. Beyond her coaching achievements, Hayes is a respected media analyst, keynote speaker, advocate for gender equity in sports and author of “My Leadership Playbook.”
• Scotty James (snowboarding) – With two Olympics medals, 10 X Games Medals and three World Halfpipe Championship Gold Medals, there is no bigger name in snowboarding than Scotty James. Scotty just made history in Aspen, winning his fourth consecutive and 7th Gold Medal at X Games –tied for most ever in the Men’s Super Pipe. Off the snow, Scotty is making an impact in the entrepreneurial space, producing top-quality content via his owned and operated production company 11Oakland. He is also building out a comprehensive portfolio of strategic investments across the technology and consumer product industry, headlined by his recently announced role as a strategic advisor and investor for the X Games. Through this position, Scotty plays a pivotal role in guiding the growth and direction of the X Games business through forging strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, contributing to strategic planning, facilitating athlete feedback, and much more. On top of that, Scotty most recently released two children’s books “MOOKi vs The Big Scary” and “MOOKi vs The Terrible Toys” with Penguin.
• Joakim Noah (basketball) – Joakim Noah played 13 years in the NBA (9 with the Chicago Bulls). He was a two-time NBA all star (2013/2014), 2014 Defensive Player of the Year and 2015 winner of the J. Walter Kennedy award for citizenship. He made the All NBA First Team in 2014. In 2010, along with his mother, the sculptor and expressive art therapist Cecilia Rodhe, Joakim started the Noah’s Arc Foundation, which aims to give youth a stronger sense of self using art and sports as tools for development. Noah’s Arc has worked extensively with youth in Chicago, as well as Joakim’s father Yannick’s hometown of Yaounde, Cameroon. The foundation continues to operate in Chicago and in continental Africa to this day. In 2022, Joakim was named an ambassador for the Basketball Africa League, highlighting his vision and commitment to the African diaspora on a global level. In 2023, Joakim in conjunction with his Noah’s Arc Foundation restarted the ONE CITY Basketball League in Chicago with 28 different violence interruption groups. In 2023, Joakim was named an ambassador to the NBA. Joakim is also an NBA Africa investor to the BAL Ambassador Line.
• Derrick Rose (basketball) – Derrick Rose is a former NBA MVP and 3x NBA All-Star. Rose attended Simeon Career Academy in Chicago, where he became one of the most highly recruited high school basketball players in the country. In the 2008 NBA Draft, Rose was selected as the first overall pick by the Chicago Bulls. He quickly established himself as one of the league’s most exciting young players, winning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 2009 and becoming an All-Star in each of his first three seasons. He is the youngest player to be named MVP in NBA history. Rose’s impact goes beyond the basketball court. He is also known for his tireless dedication to his community. In 2014, Rose donated $1 million to After School Matters, a Chicago charity that provides innovative out-of-school programs for teenagers. In 2018, Rose announced the launch of The Rose Scholars, providing hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarship money to high school students for their college expenses. He is also the author of I’ll Show You, which was published in 2019. After 15 years, Derrick retired from the NBA in 2024 and will have his jersey retired by the Chicago Bulls in the 2025-26 season
• Shannon Sharpe (football and media) – Shannon Sharpe is a former American football player and sports television personality known as one of the greatest tight ends to ever play the game, and he is returning to SPORT BEACH once again this year. During Shannon’s time in the NFL, his accomplishments led him to the Hall of Fame Class of 2011. These included becoming a three-time Super Bowl Champion, eight-time Pro Bowler, and four time First-Team All-Pro. After hanging up his cleats, Shannon launched an award-winning broadcasting career, culminating in the creation of Shay Shay Media—his production powerhouse. Under Shay Shay Media, Shannon produces two of the fastest-growing podcasts in history: “Club Shay Shay” and “Nightcap.” In 2024 alone, these shows amassed over 1 billion views on YouTube and generated more than 9 billion impressions. “Club Shay Shay” also broke records with the most-watched interview of the year, surpassing 87 million views and won an award for Outstanding Podcast – Society and Culture for the 2025 NAACP Image Awards. “Nightcap” with Chad Johnson has become the fastest growing live stream in YouTube history reaching over 4 billion impressions. In 2024, Shannon earned widespread recognition, with accolades from iHeart Radio, the Webby Awards, and the BET Hip Hop Awards. He was also celebrated as NAACP Image Awards’ Entertainer of the Year Nominee, Ebony Magazine’s Power 100 Media Maven, and one of The New York Times’ Breakout Stars of 2024. Beyond media, Shannon is an accomplished entrepreneur. He’s the founder of the fast-growing clothing brand EIGHTYFOUR and in 2021 Shannon co-founded the award-winning Cognac brand “Le Portier” inspired by his grandmother, Mary Porter. His “Shay” by LePortier has been recognized at the World Sip competition as #1 VSOP for taste. Shannon is also currently a contributor on ESPN’s “First Take” with Stephen A. Smith.

Newly Announced 2025 Brand Partners

• Epidemic Sound has transformed the soundtracking experience for global brands and professional creators, with an expansive catalog of world-class music and sound effects that’s seen and heard over 2.5 billion times a day around the globe. Providing a direct license model that comes with all rights included and next-generation soundtracking tools, Epidemic Sound empowers creators to unlock more feeling in everything they create and share their stories with the world. Epidemic Sound continuously enriches its world-class catalog of music by teaming up with artists, composers, and producers to create tracks spanning all genres, while supporting them financially and creatively.
• Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform, igniting the passions of sports fans across several distinct businesses and experiences. Through Fanatics, fans can buy their favorite jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, autographs, and memorabilia; collect physical and digital trading cards; attend sports fan festivals, and much more. With the launch of Fanatics Advertising, brands can now participate in this vast ecosystem by engaging fans across the Fanatics portfolio. From advertising across Fanatics.com, league and partner sites, and related apps; to reaching consumers via its Sports Retail Media Network; and at Fanatics Fest, the world’s largest arena for sports and collectibles bringing more than 100,000 fans together to celebrate their favorite leagues, athletes, and celebrities. If brands want to be where sports and culture converge, the Fanatics platform is the place to start.
• Meta returns to SPORT BEACH for a second year, elevating the sports experience through innovation and connection. As Meta builds the future of human interaction, SPORT BEACH attendees will engage in cutting-edge activations, from immersive Quest MR experiences—like watching a game courtside—to exclusive activations on our private charter flight. Meta’s presence underscores its commitment to reimagining how fans connect, play, and experience sports in the digital age.
• New York Life Insurance Company, a Fortune 100 company founded in 1845, is the largest mutual life insurance company in the United States¹ and one of the largest life insurers in the world. Headquartered in New York City, New York Life’s family of companies offers life insurance, disability income insurance, retirement income, investments, and long-term care insurance. New York Life has the highest financial strength ratings currently awarded to any U.S. life insurer from all four of the major credit rating agencies.²
• Peloton is a fitness and technology company that motivates more than six million Members globally to grow stronger every day. Peloton provides Members with expert instruction and world-class content to create impactful and entertaining workout experiences for anyone at any stage in their fitness journey, at home, outdoors, traveling, or at the gym. Peloton and select Peloton Instructors will be bringing an engaging fitness experience to this year’s SPORT BEACH.
• Premion is a 16-time award-winning, industry-leading CTV/OTT advertising platform. With the scale to reach streaming TV viewers across all 210 U.S. DMAs, Premion’s platform is purpose-built with a local-first approach, delivering CTV and omnichannel advertising with tailored campaign performance that prioritizes premium content, brand safety, advanced targeting, and measurable outcomes. In 2024, Premion was recognized with the CYNOPSIS Best of the Best Award for Best Ad Targeting Solution and the Digiday Media Award for Best Use of Audience Insights. The company earned “TAG Platinum” status and is certified by the Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG) for Brand Safety, Against Fraud, and Against Malware. For more information, visit www.premion.com.

Previously announced SPORT BEACH brand partners include: Ad Results Media (ARM), The Athletic, Channel Factory, The Chicago Bulls, Clio Sports, Microsoft Advertising, NBCUniversal, Scripps Sports and VII(N) The Seventh Estate.

For the full roster of leaders, innovators, and cultural influencers joining SPORT BEACH 2025, visit sportbeach.com.

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

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 40+ 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 

———————–

1 Based on revenue as reported by “Fortune 500 ranked within Industries, Insurance: Life, Health (Mutual),” Fortune magazine, 6/4/2024. For methodology, please see https://fortune.com/franchise-list-page/fortune-500-methodology-2023/.

2 Individual independent rating agency commentary as of 10/4/2024: A.M. Best (A++), Fitch (AAA), Moody’s Investors Service (Aaa), Standard & Poor’s (AA+).

Originally Released On

PR Newswire

Contact:

Mary Moczula
mary.moczula@galepartners.com

The awards recognize how Stagwell’s (STGW) GALE delivers meaningful business results for its clients, leading the industry in integrated and innovative marketing approaches

NEW YORK, March 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — This week, GALE won two of the industry’s top awards: Ad Age’s 2025 Business Transformation Agency of the Year and Adweek’s 2025 U.S. Media Agency of the Year. These accolades recognize GALE’s unique positioning as the industry’s only Business Agency, bringing excellence across all its offerings—from strategy and creative to emerging media and technology—to deliver transformative growth for its clients.

GALE’s recognition as Ad Age’s Business Transformation Agency of the Year underscores its founding mission to deliver measurable business outcomes for its clients. This approach requires strategic, modern solutions for each partner and campaign, forging deeper connections with consumers to drive meaningful change. GALE’s transformational work for Hard Rock, H&R Block, MilkPEP, and Buchanan’s were noted by Ad Age, in particular. For instance, GALE’s “Come Together” campaign–helping Hard Rock develop and launch its first-ever loyalty program, Unity–drove a 20% increase in cross-line-of-business revenue.

GALE’s additional successes include building a CRM program that added $91 million in revenue in just one year for a QSR giant, increasing yearly revenue by 59% for a car rental giant, and reversing a decades-long sales decline for dairy milk.

One of the components of GALE’s business transformation effectiveness is a strong approach to media, as recognized by the Adweek U.S. Media Agency of the Year win. Highlighting GALE’s innovation across media strategy, planning, and execution, key pillars that contributed to this award include: launching Alchemy.Ai, a proprietary AI platform that optimizes media, creative, and operations; formalizing a social-first offering, which drives engagement through audience-centric approaches; and GALE’s commitment to providing equal and unmatched excellence across both its media and creative offerings. Adweek named GALE its Breakthrough Media Agency of the Year just two years ago, reinforcing the agency’s position as a leading force in the space.

Of the wins, GALE’s Global CEO, Andrew Noel, said, “GALE’s recognition as both Business Transformation Agency of the Year and U.S. Media Agency of the Year is a testament to our ability to drive real impact for brands. By seamlessly integrating strategy, creativity, media, and technology, GALE is setting a new standard for what a modern agency can achieve when focused on driving real business results. We’re grateful to our clients whose partnership allows us to execute this vision, and our people who bring it to life.”

“When we added media to our offering just over six years ago, we understood this was critical to pushing boundaries across modern marketing,” added Sophia Zhang, GALE CEO of North America. “With emerging technologies and platforms, evolving consumer behaviors, and the growing demand for seamless brand experiences across channels, our excellence in the media space only bolsters our core offering as a Business Agency.”

GALE remains one of the most diversely awarded agencies in the industry, with other wins across Ad Age’s Data & Analytics Agency of the Year, Campaign US’ Advertising Agency of the Year, Adweek’s Fastest Growing Agency, and Ad Age’s A-List. These agency awards are in addition to top honors for client work, including Cannes Lions Awards, Effie Awards, and ANDY Awards.

About GALE
GALE is a Business Agency. We bring business insights to brand storytelling and activate across every channel. With expertise in business strategy, CRM, loyalty, brand storytelling, integrated, performance, creative, and content marketing, experience design and media, GALE creates marketing systems and communications that grow businesses. GALE delivers strong business outcomes for its partners in automotive, QSR, retail, gaming, entertainment, telecom and more. Founded in 2014, the agency currently has offices in New York, Singapore, Toronto, Denver, Los Angeles, London, Austin, Kansas City and Bengaluru. GALE has received top industry awards including Ad Age‘s A-List, Ad Age‘s Data & Analytics Agency of the Year, Adweek‘s Fastest Growing Agencies and Adweek‘s Breakthrough Media Agency of the Year.

Contact:
Mary Moczula
mary.moczula@galepartners.com

Originally Released On

PR Newswire

Contact:

Kara Gelber
pr@stagwellglobal.com 

Building on this momentum, Stagwell hosted its biennial APAC leadership summit in Bangkok from March 5-7, 2025: a platform for bringing together the network’s regional leaders and reinforcing the network’s strategic vision. Together with Stagwell’s agencies and affiliates, senior leaders from both ADK and Stagwell attended the summit, engaging in high-level discussions on integration, collaboration, and the role of APAC in global success.

Stagwell also leveraged the APAC leadership summit to relaunch its Global Affiliate Program, which bolsters full-service and specialty digital solutions for clients worldwide. By engaging in strategic partnerships with regional affiliates, Stagwell builds on its commitment to delivering next-generation marketing solutions tailored to today’s evolving consumer landscape.

“We’ve spent the past year expanding Stagwell across APAC, and now have 2,500 people in the region,” said Stagwell Chairman and CEO Mark Penn at the summit. “The most important thing for me in founding Stagwell was a collaborative culture where agencies work together while still maintaining their unique character. We’re now right-sized to win bigger and better.”

About Stagwell:
Stagwell 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 40+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

Media Contact:

Kara Gelber
pr@stagwellglobal.com

Originally Released On

PR Newswire

Contact:

Kara Gelber
pr@stagwellglobal.com 

This year’s winners reflect a breakthrough year of industry-leading digital and creative work from Stagwell’s network on behalf of leading brands including Amazon, Hard Rock, JPMorganChase, Qualcomm, Starbucks, United Airlines, Visa, and more.

2025 award highlights include:

• 72andSunny named No. 9 on Ad Age’s 2025 Agency A-List by turning its founding value of optimism into a business strategy. 72andSunny won 11 new clients and had 7 Super Bowl ads and a 30% increase in revenue.  2024 was a year of standout client work with brands such as United Airlines, Barbie, Activision Blizzard, Venmo and the NFL.
  
  
• Anomaly named No. 3 on Ad Age’s 2025 Agency A-List after a significant year of new business welcoming 15 new clients including Starbucks, Chevrolet, Visa, Ferrero Group, Google Shopping and Lululemon. The agency celebrated its 20^th anniversary this year and continued to strengthen its entrepreneurial muscle.
  
  
• Code and Theory named Ad Age’s 2025 B2B Agency of the Year. Through the agency’s unique ability to incorporate emerging technology with creativity, Code and Theory’s work has translated into massive success for clients in the business-to-business space. Code and Theory’s roster of B2B clients includes Qualcomm, Volvo Trucks, Thomson Reuters, and Amazon Ads.
  
  
• GALE named Ad Age’s 2025 Business Transformation Agency of the Year for leading brands into a new era in marketing. The agency stands out for its ability to blend business strategy with bold, creative campaigns brought to life on emerging platforms across social media, gaming, and more. This approach has led to transformative results for diverse clientele, including prominent brands like Hard Rock, H&R Block, and MilkPEP.

“These awards recognize that Stagwell is the destination for first-rate creativity and innovation,” said Stagwell Chairman and CEO Mark Penn. “Congratulations to the teams at 72andSunny, Anomaly, Code and Theory, and GALE for this incredible performance. For a company of our size, winning and servicing the best accounts is a testament to our talent and impact.”

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 40+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. www.stagwellglobal.com.

Contact:
Kara Gelber
pr@stagwellglobal.com