This past week's output from members and friends of the Folgate community
Blue wave – LinkedIn, David Gallagher. Friday notes from a week dominated by the US midterms.
Words+Pixels masterclass – LinkedIn, Taylor Bennett Foundation. A thank-you to Words+Pixels for an inspiring masterclass with current trainees.
Selling is buying – Substack, Tim Sutton. The Budget halves business asset disposal relief from April 2027, so agency founders thinking of selling should think faster, and think hard about what they’re really buying into.
Avenir Global acquires Marker Collective from Next 15 – Earned First, David Blecken and Arun Sudhaman. The deal brings over Archetype, Outcast and Nectar.
The case for corporate diplomacy – Earned First, David Blecken. Corporate affairs leaders like the grander title, but “strategic silence” looks more like a retreat than a new mandate.
The blue wave won’t kill AI. It could accelerate its adoption – LinkedIn, Aaron Kwittken. Why a Democratic Congress may speed up AI adoption, not slow it down.
Crisis simulations need a rhythm, not just once a year – Wag The Dog, Philippe Borremans. Regular short drills and tabletops build readiness. One big annual exercise doesn’t.
Claude et moi – Substack, Hannah Vaughan Jones. A self-confessed non-tech person on learning to use AI to run her life.
Adjusted numbers – LinkedIn, David Gallagher. WednesdAI Field Notes, 28 Oct – 4 Nov: the busiest week in the AC Artificial Intelligence group so far, with six themes.
Most candidate podcast appearances went to small shows – Stories & Strategies newsletter, Doug Downs. In 2026 Democrats got more out of smaller podcasts than out of the big-name shows.
Welcome, Jane Fordham and Katharine Thiemermann – LinkedIn, Folgate. Two new advisors who know talent and complex, high-stakes delivery.
Campbell Hanley named Edelman Japan CEO – Earned First, David Blecken. Hanley moves from Omnicom PR to replace Meghan Barstow.
Timesheets are dead. Long live resource management – The Agency Advisory, Andy West. A special issue built on his podcast debate on timesheets with Hard Numbers’ Darryl Sparey.
White Lotus World – 7 Things, Adrian Monck. Seven things this week, opening with how performative luxury-hotel service can feel.
What in-house teams will need from their agencies next – The Reputation Signal, Elif Güvençer. She has worked both agency and client side, and sets out how the partnership has to change as AI reshapes comms.
Kaizzen’s Vineet Handa on monetisation, Middle East expansion and AI – Earned First podcast, Arun Sudhaman. How Kaizzen grew after the Maven deal, and why advocacy and AI now drive the business.
MENA communications & public affairs snapshot – LinkedIn, Christophe Ginisty. This week’s focus: operational resilience and investment credibility in the region.
Where to find us in November – LinkedIn, Folgate . Members’ November events: keynotes in London, health summits, Milan, Abuja, and training on behavioural science and AI agents.
Never miss a beat: https://www.folgate.co/views
