New RECMA Diagnostics Report Reveals OMD “Remains More than Ever the Leader”

NEW YORK, Nov. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In the latest edition of the Network Diagnostics report from RECMA (Research Company Evaluating the Media Agency Industry), Omnicom Media Group agency OMD has been named the best performing global media network overall, marking the tenth consecutive edition in which OMD has topped the Diagnostics report.

Widely considered the most comprehensive report for analyzing media agency performance, the bi-annual RECMA Diagnostics report is based on the evaluation of approximately 700 agencies in 45 markets. Utilizing 19 KPIs to evaluate vitality and structure, the report offers an assessment index that goes beyond typical quantitative metrics such as new business wins or billings volume alone to also consider criteria such as client portfolio and relationship stability; digital, data & content resources; and homogeneity across geographies. Participating agencies are ranked both numerically by “quali-points” and by the following profiles: Dominant, High Profile, Very Good Profile, Good Profile, and Average Profile.

Pointing out the consistency of OMD’s performance, RECMA notes that the agency reached “its best performance” and remains “more than ever the leader” with a “significant lead” over its nearest competitors. Looking at the combined points earned across all 19 Diagnostic KPIs, OMD’s score indexes from 15% to 41% higher than the other agencies in the top 10.

The Dominant Leader
Additionally, OMD earned more Dominant rankings – the highest profile an agency can achieve – than any other agency. To earn this level, an agency must demonstrate consistency in its results and significantly outperform its competitors across the criteria that make up the diagnostic evaluation. In this edition of the report, only 52 agencies out of the 700 evaluated earned the dominant designation, with OMD standing out as the sole agency with designations in the double digits.

Concurrently, RECMA reported that OMD “naturally stands out as the most balanced agency” in terms of the consistency of its performance across the 45 markets studied, ranking Dominant or High Profile in 64% of all markets.

Commenting on OMD’s performance, CEO George Manas said, “We’re in a moment of marketing transformation unlike anything we’ve seen in decades. As the world’s largest media agency, OMD has not only the ambition but the responsibility to lead our clients and the industry through change: creating what’s next, together. This latest RECMA report reaffirms that OMD’s exceptional talent — powered by Omni, Omnicom’s advanced intelligence platform — is delivering on that responsibility in a way no other network can, enabling our clients, our people, and our industry to thrive in a rapidly evolving marketplace.”

The RECMA Network Diagnostics Report marks the latest in a streak of accolades for OMD in 2025, including earning Media Network of the Year honors at Cannes for the second consecutive year; and being named Media Agency of the Year in multiple markets including the US, UK, Canada, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden.

In the RECMA 2024 Overall Activity Volume (OAV) analysis that tracks billings volume for more than 800 agencies across 54 markets (published in July 2025), OMD was once again ranked #1 by volume, with close to $USD 35.6 billion in total billings – outperforming its nearest competitor by $4.4 billion – and YoY growth of +9.5 %.

ABOUT OMD
OMD, an Omnicom Media Group agency, is the world’s largest media network, with 14,000+ people working across more than 100 countries. At OMD, We Create What’s Next—delivering creative media solutions to drive sustainable growth for the world’s leading brands. Named the best-performing global media network overall by RECMA and Media Network of the Year three out of the past four Cannes Festival of Media events, OMD is a leader in innovation, creativity, and cultural relevance. www.omd.com

Source: RECMA Network Diagnostics 2nd Edition 2025

Source: RECMA Network Diagnostics 2nd Edition 2025

Recognition based on Shopware’s Completeness of Vision and Ability to Execute

SCHÖPPINGEN, Germany, Nov. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Shopware, a leading open-source digital commerce platform provider, today announced it has been recognized as a Visionary in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Digital Commerce. This marks the sixth consecutive year that Shopware has been included among global providers evaluated by Gartner. The 2025 report assessed 19 digital commerce platforms worldwide.

The Gartner Magic Quadrant positions technology providers based on their Ability to Execute and Completeness of Vision. For organizations assessing B2C and B2B commerce platforms, we feel it offers a structured view of the digital commerce market and key vendor capabilities.

Why this matters for merchants and partners

According to the Gartner definition, Visionaries understand where the market is going or have a vision for changing market rules, but do not yet execute well. In our opinion, Shopware’s open and composable approach, combined with its AI-driven features, advanced integrations, and strong partner ecosystem, enables merchants and agencies to innovate independently, scale efficiently, and grow with flexibility.

“We are proud that Gartner has recognized Shopware as a Visionary in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Digital Commerce,” said Sebastian Hamann, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Shopware. “In our view, this recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation, openness, and empowering businesses to succeed through flexibility and collaboration.”

Access the full report

Read the full 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Digital Commerce report to learn more about the Gartner evaluation and insights. Access the report: https://www.shopware.com/en/gartner-magic-quadrant/

Disclaimer:
Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Digital Commerce, Aditya Vasudevan, Ant Duffin, Mike Lowndes, Sandy Shen, Jason Daigler, Penny Gillespie; 3 November 2025. GARTNER and MAGIC QUADRANT are registered trademarks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product, or service depicted in its research or advise users to select only those with the highest ratings. Gartner research reflects the opinions of its research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including merchantability or fitness for purpose. This graphic was published as part of a larger document and should be evaluated in that context. The Gartner document is available upon request from Shopware.

Agora and Akool integrate real-time conversational AI with lifelike streaming avatars to elevate interactive experiences across voice, video, and chat.

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Nov. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Agora, Inc. (NASDAQ: API), the leading platform for real-time engagement and conversational AI, and Akool, a pioneer in AI-driven video and avatar technology, today announced a strategic collaboration to integrate Akool’s streaming avatars into Agora’s conversational AI ecosystem. This partnership enables developers to embed expressive, real-time AI avatars into voice, video, and chat applications, unlocking new possibilities for immersive and humanized interactions.

“Agora’s mission is to enable immersive real-time experiences. By integrating Akool’s avatar technology, we’re elevating what conversational applications can be — voice plus visual presence,” said Tony Wang, Agora’s Co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer.

Integration Highlights & Benefits

• Agora’s Conversational AI Engine now supports Akool as a beta avatar provider, enabling the creation of creative, lifelike avatars that are synchronized with speech, facial movements, and gestures.
• Developers using Agora’s APIs can select Akool as their avatar provider and quickly configure avatar settings in their applications.
• This integration enhances user interactions in meetings, livestreams, AI agents, and conversational interfaces, effectively bridging the gap between voice-only and fully visual experiences.
• The collaboration expands Agora’s product offering to include avatar-backed conversational experiences, complemented by Akool’s avatar generation and streaming technologies.

Use Cases & Applications

• Virtual hosts and AI agents that “see and speak” rather than just speak
• Enhanced livestreams and webinars where avatars present or narrate dynamically
• Customer support bots with expressive avatars to increase trust and engagement
• Educational platforms using avatars to deliver more humanized, interactive lessons

“At Akool, we believe that conversations become more powerful when you can both hear and see an expressive presence. Partnering with Agora connects our avatars directly into conversational AI platforms, making it easier for developers to bring these experiences to life,” said Jiajun (Jeff) Lu, CEO of Akool.

The companies will jointly promote this integration through technical demos, developer resources, and marketing campaigns. Both teams plan to iterate on the collaboration, expanding avatar features, language support, and performance optimizations.

This partnership reinforces Agora’s position as a platform that supports cutting-edge conversational experiences, while giving Akool a path to scale its avatar technology across diverse real-time applications.

About Akool
Akool is a full-stack AI video generation platform that empowers creators, educators, and enterprises to produce real-time, expressive avatars and video content. Its technology bridges voice, vision, and AI to deliver lifelike, interactive experiences.

About Agora
Agora is the global leader in real-time engagement, providing developers with simple, flexible, and powerful APIs to embed real-time conversational AI, voice, video, interactive live streaming, and chat into their applications and IoT devices. Headquartered in Santa Clara, CA, Agora is trusted by over 1,800 leading organizations across the globe to power best-in-class real-time experiences from social media and live shopping to education and telehealth. For more information about Agora (NASDAQ: API), visit: www.agora.io

• One of UK’s leading wealth managers, with offices and clients across the country, finds in new analysis that UK is ‘the most geographically unequal economy in developed world’
• Rathbones calls for decisive action in the Budget to support growth and investment in all regions and warns that high energy costs and poor transport links deter business investment and limit opportunity

LONDON, Nov. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Critical under-investment in regions outside of the South-East is a serious drag on the UK’s economic prospects and needs urgent address, according to Rathbones, one of the UK’s leading wealth management groups.

Rathbones says its plan supports investment-led growth.

Publishing its key recommendations for the Chancellor ahead of the Autumn Budget, Rathbones calls on the government to reverse years of neglect in regional funding and unleash the potential of the UK economy as a whole. It warns that the UK is, by several measures, the most geographically unequal economy in the developed world.

The firm’s analysis, “Building Prosperity: Five Recommendations for Growth and Investment in the UK” Rathbones highlights how regional inequalities, for instance in infrastructure and energy costs, undermine  the UK’s economic potential. It cites  spending per person on transport, which is 80% higher in London than in the next highest region, Scotland. This means that in each of the nine largest cities outside London, only 40% of people can reach the city centre in 30 minutes by public transport, compared with 67% in comparable European cities.

The Building Prosperity report is based on extensive analysis by Rathbones’ economists and investment research team, as well as insights from clients across the country. It identifies five critical areas for policy action: pensions, business taxation, regional/public investment, wealth taxation, and property/housing market reform. The report argues that only a bold, investment-led approach can break the cycle of weak growth and rising tax pressures that have hampered the UK economy for years.

Key findings on the impact of regional imbalance include:

• Energy costs and competitiveness: UK industrial electricity prices are almost 50% higher than the median among developed economies, with prices four times higher than in the US and one-and-a-half times the European average. This is particularly damaging for energy-intensive sectors outside of London such as manufacturing and data centres, which are vital for the digital economy.
• Infrastructure delays and missed opportunities: The cancellation of the northern leg of HS2 and delays to Northern Powerhouse Rail risk hampering growth in the North. Rathbones calls for renewed commitment to major transport projects outside London and further devolution of decision-making to cities and regions.
• Planning system bottlenecks: The report highlights how the UK’s planning system creates delays and costs, with less than a quarter of major planning decisions made within the statutory 13-week timeline. Rathbones urges the government to pass the Planning and Infrastructure Bill without dilution, to speed up approval and delivery of major projects and ensure adequate funding for the planning system.

Camilla Stowell, CEO Wealth at Rathbones, said: “Our clients are at the heart of building and managing the real-world activity that drives the UK economy. But too many regions are being left behind by underinvestment in transport, energy, and public services. If the government is serious about driving growth, it must prioritise regional investment and infrastructure reform. The evidence is clear: targeted investment can unlock opportunity, create jobs, and support businesses across the country.”

Oliver Jones, Head of Asset Allocation at Rathbones and lead author of the analysis, added: “Regional investment is not just about fairness, it’s about unlocking the UK’s economic potential. Our research shows that holistic infrastructure spending and energy reform can drive growth, create jobs, and support businesses across the country. The government must act now to ensure every region can contribute to and benefit from national prosperity.”

In its analysis, Building Prosperity, Rathbones also calls on the government to:

1. Boost investment through the pension system
2. Reform business taxation
3. Resist further taxes on wealth
4. Reinvigorate the housing market

Notes to Editors

See the full report here.

Please contact press@rathbones.com 

About Rathbones rathbones.com

Rathbones Group Plc (Rathbones) is one of the UK’s leading providers of investment and wealth management services for private clients (individuals and families), charities, trustees, and professional partners. Rathbones’ purpose is to help more people invest their money well, so they can live well.

With roots dating back to 1742, the company has been trusted for generations to manage, preserve and grow its clients’ wealth. Services include discretionary investment management, fund management, tax planning, trust and company management, financial advice and banking services. Rathbones also supports financial advisers deliver positive outcomes for their clients.

Rathbones manages £113.0 billion* of client assets, including £16.3 billion through its asset management arm, Rathbones Asset Management Limited. A FTSE 250 company, Rathbones employs over 3,350 professionals, including around 750 investment professionals in over 20 offices across the UK and the Channel Islands, offering clients high-quality, personalised wealth management services.

*As of September 30, 2025

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Nov. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Master Distiller Dan McKee and Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson have approved the release of Michter’s 20 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Shipments of this rare whiskey to bars, restaurants, and stores will begin December 1st. This release comes three months after Michter’s was named The World’s Most Admired Whiskey for an unprecedented third time. In August, Drinks International published the 2025 list of the World’s Most Admired Whiskies. The rankings are determined by an international academy consisting of 100 independent global drinks buyers, journalists, bartenders and whisky experts, and it includes legendary distillers from Scotland, Japan, Ireland, and beyond.

The 2025 Relase of Michter’s 20 Year Bourbon

“By law bourbon must be aged in a brand new barrel, which imparts flavor, color and oak character more quickly than a used barrel. To age a whiskey that will taste wonderful after two decades in a first-use barrel is an extremely difficult endeavor that requires a skillful balance of art and science. I believe that people will appreciate the thoughtful and conscientious work of our production team when they taste this exceptional whiskey,” commented Michter’s President Joseph J. Magliocco.

Barrel management and precisely controlled warehouse conditions are critical to the quality of aged whiskey. Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson oversees both of these important areas for Michter’s. Wilson observed, “Details matter when it comes to aging bourbon gracefully. Michter’s 20 Year Bourbon is an exemplary representation of how oak can be used to deepen vanilla, toffee, chocolate, spice, fruit, and confectionery notes that enhance complexity in bourbon. We hope that everyone who gets the opportunity to taste this product is able to experience the beloved attributes of a beautiful, timeless bourbon crafted through intentional aging.”

The proof of this 2025 release is 114.2 (57.1% ABV), and the suggested U.S. retail price is $1,200 for a 750ml bottle.

“Our production team takes great pride in offering such a special whiskey. A lot of time and effort goes into maturing these barrels so that they are extraordinary for this release,” said Master Distiller Dan McKee.

Beyond its main distillery in the Shively section of Louisville, Michter’s operations extend to two other sites in Kentucky. In Springfield, Michter’s is farming estate grown grain on its 205-acre property, while in downtown Louisville, Michter’s has its second distillery in the historic Fort Nelson Building. Situated in a prime location on West Main Street opposite Louisville Slugger and on the same block as the Frazier Museum, Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery features the legendary pot still system from Michter’s Pennsylvania. It also has educational tours with whiskey tastings and The Bar at Fort Nelson, which features classic cocktails curated by spirits and cocktail historian David Wondrich.

Michter’s has a rich and long legacy of offering traditional American whiskeys of uncompromising quality. With each of its limited production offerings aged to its peak maturity, Michter’s highly acclaimed portfolio includes bourbon, rye, sour mash whiskey, and American whiskey. For more information about Michter’s, please visit michters.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and X.

Contact:
Joseph J. Magliocco
+1 (502) 774-2300 x580
jmagliocco@michters.com

– Strategic investment enhances service to North American customers and supports rising market demand for high-quality ingredients –

BASEL, Switzerland, Nov. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Jungbunzlauer, a global leader in high-quality ingredients from natural sources, today announced the successful closing of its acquisition of the production site in Thomson, Illinois from International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. (IFF). 

This milestone marks Jungbunzlauer’s first U.S. manufacturing facility, enhancing its ability to serve North American customers with greater proximity and responsiveness.

The Thomson site will be developed to support Jungbunzlauer’s portfolio of naturally derived ingredients, with preparations, equipment installation, and regulatory compliance activities commencing immediately. 

The company, well known for its high-quality citric acid, develops and manufactures a wide product portfolio including mineral salts, texturants and acidulants. Together with the recent expansion of its biogums facility in Canada, this acquisition positions Jungbunzlauer to meet growing demand and deliver high-quality solutions across North America. 

“This acquisition is a significant step in Jungbunzlauer’s growth journey. We are proud to establish our first U.S. manufacturing facility in Thomson, Illinois, and look forward to delivering sustainable, trusted solutions for our customers. We plan to invest in advanced manufacturing and deliver long-term value for the region, our customers and stakeholders,” said Bruno Tremblay, Chief Executive Officer, Jungbunzlauer. 

Jungbunzlauer is committed to being an active partner in the Thomson community. By localising production, the company aims to create jobs, support local suppliers, and contribute to regional economic growth. Its approach emphasises efficient operations and responsible sourcing, reflecting a dedication to customer needs and community support. 

“Jungbunzlauer’s reputation for responsible, quality manufacturing makes them an ideal addition to the Illinois business community. We are proud to welcome them to Thomson and look forward to supporting their growth, which will bring new, high-quality opportunities for our workforce, suppliers, and the region,” said David Schmit, Regional Director, Northwest Illinois Economic Development. 

The asset deal does not include any of IFF’s commercial business, product lines, or employees. 

“We look forward to providing further updates, including operational plans, future hiring, and community engagement initiatives as we prepare the facility for production,” concluded Mr Tremblay. 

About Jungbunzlauer

Jungbunzlauer is a leading producer of high-quality, sustainable ingredients from natural sources, serving industries from food and beverage, to nutrition, health, home and personal care, among others. Leading the way in developing naturally better ingredients that enhance everyday life, we are a trusted partner offering a diverse portfolio of texturants, acidulants, sweeteners, minerals, and tailored solutions to meet our customers’ evolving needs.

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, with state-of-the-art facilities including large-scale fermentation operations across Europe and North America, we proudly serve more than 130 countries worldwide. Founded more than 150 years ago, Jungbunzlauer has grown into a CHF 1.3 billion company, driven by nearly 1,400 dedicated colleagues committed to a healthier, more sustainable future. Learn more at www.jungbunzlauer.com.

Recognition Highlights the Company’s Breakthrough in Autonomous Vision AI for Digital Automation

SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — INFOFLA, a rising leader in autonomous AI solutions, today announced that its flagship product, Selto, the vision-based autonomous AI agent, has been named a CES 2026 Innovation Award Honoree for outstanding achievement in technology and design.

Hosted by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the CES Innovation Awards recognize cutting-edge innovations shaping the future of global industries. This honor positions INFOFLA among the world’s most forward-thinking companies advancing next-generation intelligent automation.

Selto introduces a new paradigm in digital work automation.

Unlike traditional RPA tools or text-based AI agents, Selto “sees” and interacts with user interfaces visually—identifying buttons, menus, and forms just as a human would. Powered by advanced Vision-Language Models (VLMs) and adaptive learning architecture, Selto autonomously performs complex, end-to-end tasks without requiring scripts, APIs, or system integration.

This breakthrough enables organizations to automate workflows across even the most complex or restricted systems, including public service portals, legacy applications, and secure enterprise software. Selto delivers human-level perception, real-time adaptability, and enhanced scalability, making it a transformative solution for enterprise digital transformation.

INFOFLA’s innovation has already gained significant international momentum. In late October, the company showcased Selto at TechCrunch Disrupt San Francisco 2025, forming strategic partnerships with technology distributors and enterprise buyers across North America. To accelerate global expansion, INFOFLA is now establishing a U.S. subsidiary and plans to increase R&D collaboration and enterprise deployments worldwide.

“Selto was designed to bridge the gap between human understanding and digital execution,” said Inmook Choi, CEO of INFOFLA. “Winning the CES 2026 Innovation Award is a meaningful milestone that validates our mission to redefine what is possible with intelligent, vision-driven automation.”

By removing traditional technical barriers and supporting secure, on-premise-compatible deployment, INFOFLA is setting a new global benchmark for intelligent automation in the AI era.

About INFOFLA

INFOFLA is a South Korea–based AI technology company specializing in vision-based autonomous AI agents that empower organizations to automate any digital task—without code, APIs, or system integration. With a focus on inclusivity, adaptability, and security, INFOFLA empowers industries to adopt AI-driven automation that mirrors human decision-making and accelerates digital transformation.

For more information, visit www.infofla.com or linkedin.com/company/infofla.