Meshlin Khouri is appointed Executive Director, Strategic Comms

Edward Strong has been promoted at Montu to the role of Group General Manager, Corporate Affairs. He joined the team in 2024 as Head of Government Relations.

Edward was previously at public affairs and strategic communications firm, Nexus APAC. Prior to this, he held in-house roles across the medical device sector, and as a Ministerial Advisor, as well as agency-side at Edelman.

Montreal-based communications holding and management company, AVENIR GLOBAL, has announced the acquisition of Marker Collective from Next 15 Group.

Marker comprises three communications agencies operating across multiple markets: Archetype, Nectar, and Outcast. The group will continue to operate separately under Helena Maus' leadership, with each agency retaining its identity, leadership team, culture, and client focus. Day-to-day operations will remain unchanged, with clients continuing to work with their existing agency teams.

"What attracted us to Marker was the quality of its people, the strength of its agencies, the relationships it has built with some of the world's leading technology companies, and the technology they have developed," said Jean-Pierre Vasseur, President and CEO of AVENIR GLOBAL.

"We believe in the value of communications and advisory firms that help organisations earn trust, strengthen their reputations, and navigate change, particularly where science, technology, health, policy, and capital intersect. Marker fits well with that approach. In our 50th anniversary year, this acquisition represents another important step in our international growth. We look forward to supporting Marker's continued success as part of AVENIR GLOBAL."

"Today's announcement is a strong vote of confidence in our people, our clients, and the model we have been building - distinct agencies with strong points of view, connected by shared intelligence and technology," said Helena Maus, CEO of Marker Collective.

"What makes AVENIR GLOBAL such a good fit is its understanding of what makes specialist agencies successful. We share a belief in preserving what makes each agency different while giving our teams opportunities to collaborate and deliver success for clients across markets. Joining AVENIR GLOBAL gives us a long-term partner that values what we have created. The next era of communications is being written now, and we are thrilled to write it with AVENIR GLOBAL."

Global jewellery retailer, Diamonds Factory, has named creative communications agency, CampaignLab, as its earned and integrated media partner. The partnership is already underway, launching with its first campaign, Something Borrowed.

Diamonds Factory Marketing Director, Chloe Heyes, said: "We wanted an agency that really understands our customers and thinks differently about how to reach them, and CampaignLab has shown both, from our very first meeting through to Something Borrowed. We speak to people every day who know they’re ready to propose, but get stuck on the ring. This lets them have that romantic moment of getting down on one knee with a ring in hand."

CampaignLab Founder and Director, Andy Scales, said: "We let people borrow a ring, so they keep the surprise of the proposal and hand the big decision to the person who’ll actually wear it. It’s a simple idea that solves a real problem, and it puts Diamonds Factory in the middle of the engagement conversation."