Stagwell, the challenger network built to transform marketing, has appointed Sunil John as Senior Advisor, Stagwell MENA. John will head Stagwell's forthcoming MENA office, spearheading growth and enhancing collaboration among local agencies and partners. He will also develop new client solutions, utilizing his extensive regional network to support brands aiming for both regional expansion and global reach.John, named the Best PR Professional in the Middle East by PRWeek in 2023 and 2020, brings over three decades of regional experience to Stagwell, having founded ASDA'A BCW, the region's leading PR consultancy and been instrumental in shaping the public relations landscape in the Arab world. During his time at ASDA'A he launched Proof Communications, a specialist digital and design firm, OnePoint5, an ESG advisory and led the annual Arab Youth Survey, the groundbreaking thought leadership platform capturing the hopes and aspirations of the 200 million Arab youth.Additionally, as an Advisory Board Member of the Dubai International Chamber since July 2021, John has been influential in reinforcing Dubai's status as a global trade hub."Marketers who miss out on MENA will miss out on one of the biggest consumer growth stories of our decade," said Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO, Stagwell. "As we focus on becoming more competitive internationally, Sunil's unparalleled experience in MENA and his leadership are what Stagwell needs to deepen our presence and help our clients succeed in this crucial market.""I am excited to join Stagwell and contribute to its unique technology-driven offering in the marketing services landscape," said Sunil John. "The opportunity to integrate my experience, my love of research and insights, and my focus on digital transformation and technology with Stagwell's innovative approach will bring value to a region that is one of the fastest growing in the world. As a challenger network, I believe Stagwell will be the company that creates significant impact for our clients in the MENA region."John's appointment comes at a time when Stagwell is opening a new chapter in the region after recently announcing its intent to acquire Consulum, a leading government advisory firm that specializes in strategic communications, public policy and leadership support in the MENA and other global markets.Stagwell's footprint across MENA includes its omnichannel media agency Assembly and global creative collective Forsman and Bodenfors. Additionally, Stagwell counts marketing and talent management agency FLC and strategic growth advisory firm Phronesis Group among its global affiliate partners in the region. With offices across Dubai, Cairo, and Riyadh, Stagwell is positioned to serve clients in a range of industries in MENA, including retail, automotive, crypto, real estate, tech and finance sectors.The MENA region is a key growth market for Stagwell as the company pursues its goal of doubling revenue at the Company beyond North America by 2025. In 2024 to date, Stagwell has acquired seven firms, including LEADERS (Israel), Team Epiphany (US), Sidekick (UK), What's Next Partners (France), PROS (Brazil), Business Traveller (Global), and BERA (US).

 Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), the challenger network built to transform marketing, has acquired Tel Aviv-based LEADERS, a world-class digital agency specializing in influencer marketing and social commerce and the development of InfluencerMarketing.AI (IMAI), a global influencer marketing SaaS platform. The company joins Stagwell Marketing Cloud's PRophet Comms Tech Suite of AI-powered offerings purpose-built for modern PR and marketing professionals.Founded by Eran Nizri and Yehonatan Arami in 2017, LEADERS and IMAI combine high-value digital and influencer marketing strategy with a cutting-edge, AI-powered SaaS influencer marketing platform. IMAI leverages advanced AI technologies to connect brands with over 300 million creators worldwide. The platform allows users from anywhere in the world to launch campaigns in just a few clicks, offering robust analytics, sales prediction models, and campaign management tools. Clients include Nespresso, Samsung, and Colgate-Palmolive; notable SaaS clients include Coca-Cola, Playtika, Est??e Lauder, and Superdry. IMAI will supplement the bench of influencer marketing platforms currently in use by Stagwell's agencies around the world, including existing tools in the PRophet Comms Tech Suite."We are excited to welcome LEADERS to the Stagwell family. This acquisition strengthens our Stagwell Marketing Cloud offering with cutting-edge AI solutions for influencer marketing while marking our first agency in Israel amid a substantial global expansion push from Stagwell this year," said Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO, Stagwell. "Eran and his team share our vision of transforming marketing with technology, and we look forward to working together to deliver value to our clients across the globe.""Combining with Eran and the LEADERS team is a force multiplier for PRophet and Stagwell to expand global reach, integrate advanced AI technologies and leverage domain expertise around high performance digital and influencer marketing strategy for customers," said Aaron Kwittken, Founder and CEO of SMC's Comms Tech Suite."This acquisition marks a transformative milestone for LEADERS and InfluencerMarketing.AI," added Nizri. "With Stagwell's extensive network and resources, we are set to redefine the landscape of influencer marketing. Our goal is to become the world's leading influencer and digital marketing powerhouse, delivering unparalleled value and innovation to our clients. We look forward to integrating our capabilities into Stagwell's Comms Tech Unit and leading the industry into a new era of excellence."LEADERS' and IMAI's success is driven by a strong leadership team. Eran Nizri will continue to serve as Group CEO, reporting into Aaron Kwittken, Founder and CEO of Stagwell Marketing Cloud's PRophet Comms Tech Suite. Itamar Gonsherovitz will continue to spearhead LEADERS' digital agency operations as CEO. Yehonatan Arami, will continue to lead business development, expanding the company's reach within the Stagwell network.The acquisition comes as Stagwell expands its global footprint and invests further in AI-enabled solutions at the forefront of digital marketing. LEADERS is Stagwell's seventh acquisition of 2024, following Team Epiphany (U.S.), Sidekick (U.K.), What's Next Partners (France), PROS (Brazil), Business Traveller (Global), and BERA (U.S.).