M&A Signals – Deals Announced Through May 20, 2026
Highlights Insider One acquired Bluecore Insider One is an agentic customer engagement platform. Bluecore is a retail marketing platform that creates personalized shopping experiences across digital channels and serves more than 400 US enterprise brands. The deal strengthens Insider One’s data infrastructure. It also expands Insider One’s North American enterprise footprint as the company pushes autonomous customer engagement at enterprise scale. Agency lens: This k… Get Unlimited NextBigWin Access Subscribe to become a NextBigWin Pro member and get access to all our exclusive content. Turn access and intelligence into your next big client win. Already a member? Login Subscribe to NextBigWin Pro
Funding Signals – Activity Through May 19, 2026
Highlights Anduril Industries raised $5B (Series H) led by Thrive Capital and Andreessen Horowitz Anduril builds advanced defense technology and autonomous systems. The financing will support manufacturing capacity, R&D, and infrastructure needed to build and field defense systems at scale. The raise also follows a year in which Anduril more than doubled revenue, nearly doubled its workforce, and expanded international program activity. Agency lens: Large-scale … Get Unlimited NextBigWin Access Subscribe to become a NextBigWin Pro member and get access to all our exclusive content. Turn access and intelligence into your next big client win. Already a member? Login Subscribe to NextBigWin Pro
SMART General Advertising Services Search With Media Planning And Creative Execution
At a Glance Buyer: Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation Industry: Public transportation Location/markets: Southeast Michigan Primary scope: General advertising services Key deliverables/channels: Strategic marketing and communications planning, creative services, graphic design, content development, branding, media planning and management, digital media strategy, videography, photography, website content, social media, analytics, reporting, vehicle graphic… Get Unlimited NextBigWin Access Subscribe to become a NextBigWin Pro member and get access to all our exclusive content. Turn access and intelligence into your next big client win. Already a member? Login Subscribe to NextBigWin Pro
Great Falls College Paid Media Strategy Search Focused on Funnel and Analytics
At a Glance Buyer: Great Falls College Industry: Higher education Location/markets: Great Falls, Montana; regional audiences, rural markets, Native students, adult learners, working parents, dual enrollment students, and recent high school graduates Primary scope: Unified media buying and digital advertising strategy Key deliverables/channels: Annual media strategy, campaign-level plans, paid social, search, display, programmatic, retargeting, YouTube, connected TV, digital … Get Unlimited NextBigWin Access Subscribe to become a NextBigWin Pro member and get access to all our exclusive content. Turn access and intelligence into your next big client win. Already a member? Login Subscribe to NextBigWin Pro
University Of Texas at Dallas Digital Marketing Search for Graduate Program Enrollment Growth
At a Glance Buyer: University of Texas at Dallas Industry: Higher education Location/markets: Dallas/Richardson, Texas; local, regional, and national audiences Primary scope: Advertising and marketing services for UT Dallas Executive Education Key deliverables/channels: Paid search, display, social, Google, LinkedIn, Meta, retargeting, audience segmentation, media plans, campaign reporting, ROI analysis Budget: Advertising budgets in the range of $20,000–$60,000 annually per… Get Unlimited NextBigWin Access Subscribe to become a NextBigWin Pro member and get access to all our exclusive content. Turn access and intelligence into your next big client win. Already a member? Login Subscribe to NextBigWin Pro
UMBC Brand Strategy Opportunity With Identity Refresh and Full Launch Implementation
At a Glance Buyer: University of Maryland, Baltimore County Industry: Higher education Location/markets: Baltimore County, Maryland; internal and external university audiences Primary scope: Institutional brand strategy, identity refresh, and implementation Key deliverables/channels: Brand discovery, research, identity audit, messaging, creative concepts, print collateral, web UI/design systems, social, email, digital ads, launch planning, brand governance Budget: Not specified Contract type/term: 18 months Key dates: Proposal deadline June 9, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET; oral discussion placeholder dates July 27–28, 2026; contract award anticipated August 2026 Eligibility/must-haves: Comparable references, evidence of financial stability, compliance with University System of Maryland and State of Maryland procurement requirements, 20% MBE subcontracting goal Why This Could Be Interesting The University of Maryland, Baltimore County is a public research university within the University System of Maryland, located near Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and BWI Airport. The institution is preparing to roll out a new strategic plan that will shape its next several years. UMBC is looking for an agency to lead a comprehensive brand refresh — not a wholesale rebrand — covering research, strategy, creative development, identity evaluation, implementation, launch planning, and governance. Logos, seal, nomenclature, color system, messaging, campaign development, digital templates, print collateral, and web/UI components are all in play. What makes this notable is the scale and timing. The work is tied directly to a forthcoming strategic direction and supported by a newly created Division of University Communications and Marketing. The scope stretches from campus research and competitive analysis through creative concepts, internal launch, public launch, and post-launch support. Best suited for agencies with deep higher education experience, brand strategy chops, stakeholder management discipline, and integrated creative, digital, content, analytics, and implementation capabilities. Proposal deadline: June 9, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET Download the full RFP here.
Radar Report #011 – Week of May 18, 2026
7 Accounts Showing Buying Signals Each week, the Radar Report highlights companies showing signals of potential marketing investment. These moments often lead organizations to reassess agency relationships and growth initiatives. For agencies looking for new business opportunities, Radar Report surfaces companies likely preparing to invest in marketing and brand. 7. Subway Subway is on the Radar after elevating a seasoned restaurant and CPG marketer into the CMO role. Trigger Jeff Klein became Chief Marketing Officer at Subway in May 2026 after a short stint as SVP of Marketing. He previously held senior leadership roles at Popeyes, Little Caesars, PepsiCo, HJ Heinz, and Cadbury. Why This Matters The move suggests Subway is leaning into sharper brand positioning, core campaigns, partnerships, innovation, and menu strategy. Klein’s background spans major QSR and CPG brands, with experience across brand management, shopper marketing, foodservice, product innovation, and large-scale consumer campaigns. Agency Opportunity QSR brand strategy Menu innovation marketing Partnership campaigns Shopper marketing Consumer loyalty Smart Outreach Angle Lead with how Subway can translate CPG-style brand discipline into restaurant growth: sharper menu storytelling, stronger occasion-based campaigns, and partnerships that drive repeat visits. Company Context Subway is one of the world’s largest restaurant brands, known for its sandwich and quick-service franchise model. Its marketing challenge sits across brand relevance, menu innovation, value, and frequency. 6. Monster Energy Monster Energy is on the Radar after elevating a longtime global marketing leader to CMO, The Americas. Trigger Jordi Gayolà Guitart became Chief Marketing Officer, The Americas in March 2026 after nearly 11 years at Monster Energy. His prior roles included SVP Monster Brands & International Marketing, SVP Global Marketing, VP Global Marketing, and Senior Director of Marketing. Why This Matters This promotion points to a tighter regional focus across the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. His background spans sports marketing, integrated brand execution, regional expansion, FMCG brand management, and multi-market leadership across Monster Energy, Coca-Cola, and Unilever. Agency Opportunity Sports marketing Regional brand strategy Integrated campaign execution Experiential marketing Sponsorship activation Smart Outreach Angle Lead with how Monster can keep its edge in energy drinks by connecting sports, creator culture, and regional fan communities into campaigns that feel local without diluting the brand. Company Context Monster Energy is a global energy drink brand with a heavy presence in sports, music, gaming, and lifestyle marketing. Its growth depends on brand heat, retail visibility, and cultural relevance across markets.
CMO Moves – Week of May 18, 2026
Highlights Amy Martin Ziegenfuss named Chief Marketing Officer at Six Flags Entertainment Corporation Six Flags is an entertainment company focused on experiential consumer businesses. The move comes as Six Flags sharpens its commercial strategy entering the 2026 summer season. Ziegenfuss brings travel and hospitality experience from Carnival Cruise Line and Hilton, with a track record tied to segmentation, measurement, brand consistency, and media efficiency. Agenc… Get Unlimited NextBigWin Access Subscribe to become a NextBigWin Pro member and get access to all our exclusive content. Turn access and intelligence into your next big client win. Already a member? Login Subscribe to NextBigWin Pro
The Agency Opportunity Inside Everspring’s AI Discovery Strategy
At a Glance Interviewee: Mike Bell, Chief Marketing Officer Company: Everspring Location: Chicago, Illinois Website: everspringpartners.com Industry: Higher education technology, enrollment marketing, and student-success services Company Notes: Everspring is a privately held higher-ed partner supporting 45+ university partners Best-Fit Agencies: AI visibility, SEO, analytics, performance media, content strategy, martech consulting Source: CMO Journeys Interview The Big Pict… Get Unlimited NextBigWin Access Subscribe to become a NextBigWin Pro member and get access to all our exclusive content. Turn access and intelligence into your next big client win. Already a member? Login Subscribe to NextBigWin Pro
Where Agencies Can Support the NFL’s Cultural Shift
At a Glance Interviewee: Tim Ellis, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer Company: National Football League Estimated Revenue: $21.2 billion league-wide revenue for the 2024 season Location: New York, New York Website: www.nfl.com Industry: Sports, media, entertainment, live events, and consumer culture Company Notes: The NFL is a 32-team sports and media ecosystem with major revenue from media rights, sponsorships, licensing, events, and fan engagement Best-Fit Agencies: Brand st… Get Unlimited NextBigWin Access Subscribe to become a NextBigWin Pro member and get access to all our exclusive content. Turn access and intelligence into your next big client win. Already a member? Login Subscribe to NextBigWin Pro
