Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) has announced the acquisition of Tel Aviv-based LEADERS. Renowned for its expertise in influencer marketing and social commerce, LEADERS also developed InfluencerMarketing.AI (IMAI), a cutting-edge SaaS platform. This acquisition aims to strengthen Stagwell Marketing Cloud’s PRophet Comms Tech Suite with advanced AI-powered solutions, propelling the company to new heights in the marketing industry.
Empowering Influencer Marketing with AI
LEADERS, founded by Eran Nizri and Yehonatan Arami in 2017, integrates high-value digital strategies with AI-powered tools to revolutionize influencer marketing. IMAI, their flagship platform, leverages AI to connect brands with over 300 million creators worldwide, offering features such as robust analytics, sales prediction models, and comprehensive campaign management tools. This acquisition allows Stagwell to enhance its existing tools and provide clients with superior influencer marketing solutions.
Strategic Expansion and Integration
Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO of Stagwell, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition: “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. 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.”
Aaron Kwittken, Founder and CEO of SMC’s Comms Tech Suite, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the potential for global reach and technological integration: “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.”
A New Era for LEADERS and InfluencerMarketing.AI
Eran Nizri, Group CEO of LEADERS, sees this acquisition as a transformative milestone: “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.”
Continued Leadership and Growth
Under the new structure, Eran Nizri will continue as Group CEO, reporting to Aaron Kwittken. Itamar Gonsherovitz will maintain his role as CEO of LEADERS’ digital agency operations, and Yehonatan Arami will lead business development, expanding the company’s reach within the Stagwell network.
Stagwell’s Expansion and AI Investment
This acquisition aligns with Stagwell’s strategy of expanding its global footprint and investing in AI-enabled solutions. LEADERS marks Stagwell’s seventh acquisition of 2024, joining a roster of other strategic acquisitions, including Team Epiphany, Sidekick, What’s Next Partners, PROS, Business Traveller, and BERA.
Stagwell Marketing Cloud (SMC) offers data-driven SaaS solutions designed for the modern marketer. These solutions, born from Stagwell’s network of award-winning agencies, empower marketers with tools that leverage AI, machine learning, and augmented reality to drive business and brand impact. For more information, visit www.stagwellmarketingcloud.com.
PRophet, founded in 2020 by Aaron Kwittken, is an AI-powered suite of tools for modern communicators. It offers solutions for creating and testing PR content, managing influencer marketing campaigns, and monitoring social media in real-time. Visit prprophet.ai to learn more.
Established in 2017, LEADERS specializes in influencer marketing with a focus on performance and sales. InfluencerMarketing.AI, launched in 2020, connects brands with influencers using advanced AI, offering analytics and management tools to optimize campaigns.
For more information, visit Stagwell’s website and learn how this acquisition is set to revolutionize influencer marketing on a global scale.