Doner and Colle McVoy Join Forces as DonerColle Partners, Establishing a Center of Creative Gravity in the American Midwest
Rhea-AI Summary
Doner and Colle McVoy have formed DonerColle Partners under Stagwell (NYSE: STGW) to create a Midwest-based creative collective serving national brands. The alliance unifies operations across more than 500 employees in Detroit, Minneapolis and Chicago, preserves each agency's identity, and begins a phased integration through 2026.
The offering emphasizes combined creative capabilities, scaled media, production studios and use of AI, led by CEO Jessica Henrichs and executive chairman David DeMuth, and lists major clients including Stellantis, UPS Store, Dairy Queen and Coca-Cola.
Positive
- Combined scale: more than 500 employees across Detroit, Minneapolis and Chicago
- Broadened capabilities: scaled media offerings and state-of-the-art production studios
- Client roster includes multiple major brands such as Stellantis, Coca-Cola, Dairy Queen
- Leadership named: Jessica Henrichs as CEO and David DeMuth as executive chairman
- Phased integration with full rollout planned throughout 2026
Negative
- Structured as a strategic alliance, not a merger, which may limit full legal/financial consolidation
- Integration is phased through 2026, creating a multi-stage transition timeline for combined operations
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, STGW declined 3.50%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction. This price movement removed approximately $56M from the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $1.53B at that time.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
STGW was up 1.78% pre-news while key peers were mixed: IAS up 0.78% but ZD, CRTO, QNST, and EEX down between 1.2% and 2.53%, suggesting primarily stock-specific dynamics.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26 | Sports activation events | Positive | -3.2% | SPORT BEACH announced Super Bowl and NBA All-Star Clubhouse experiences. |
| Jan 22 | Strategic partnership | Positive | +2.5% | Spotter and STGW formed a creator-led media partnership across networks. |
| Jan 21 | Platform launch | Positive | +2.1% | The Harris Poll launched QuestRQ reputation intelligence platform for enterprises. |
| Jan 20 | Incubator fund launch | Positive | +1.4% | STGW created Quarter Creek Ventures for adtech and AI-enabled marketing. |
| Jan 07 | Leadership alignment | Positive | -2.8% | Media and commerce units aligned under a new global chair structure. |
Recent corporate and product announcements have produced mixed reactions, with three positive moves and two declines, indicating investors do not respond uniformly to growth or strategic news.
Over January 2026, STGW issued several growth and innovation updates. Launches included Quarter Creek Ventures, the Harris Poll’s QuestRQ platform, and a Spotter partnership, which saw generally positive price reactions. Organizational alignment news on Jan 7 and SPORT BEACH event news on Jan 26 were followed by declines. Today’s Midwest-focused agency alliance fits into this pattern of network expansion and capability-building initiatives.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement creates DonerColle Partners, unifying more than 500 employees across Detroit, Minneapolis, and Chicago to strengthen STGW’s Midwest presence with major brands. It follows January initiatives such as new venture funding, a reputation platform, and a creator partnership, underscoring a broad expansion strategy. Investors may watch how this alliance affects client wins, utilization, and margins in upcoming quarters, alongside ongoing portfolio and capital allocation actions reported in recent filings.
Key Terms
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AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
New Powerhouse Collective Established to Help National Brands Win Between the Coasts
DETROIT, MICHIGAN / ACCESS Newswire / January 29, 2026 / Today, leading Stagwell (STGW) agencies Doner and Colle McVoy have joined forces to form DonerColle Partners, a new entity created to serve the brands that move America.
As the Midwest emerges as the demographic and cultural center of today's consumer landscape, DonerColle Partners is strategically positioned to help brands connect where it matters most. Unifying operations across more than 500 employees in Detroit, Minneapolis and Chicago, the partnership is built on a foundation of modern creativity and is grounded in a genuine understanding of the people and places that drive American business. Geographically and fundamentally, DonerColle Partners is poised to more effectively and authentically relate to and embrace the sensibilities of everyday Americans who are often overlooked or disregarded by coastal agencies.
"These agencies have a proven ability to combine mainstream marketing with modern techniques and strong client relationships that drive real results," Stagwell chairman and CEO Mark Penn said. "Together, we're creating a combined offering that honors that legacy while embracing the future, leveraging AI, modern marketing and an informed perspective of the communities and consumers that shape America."
Doner and Colle McVoy will maintain their unique identities and client relationships under DonerColle Partners. Structured as a strategic alliance rather than a merger, the arrangement preserves the specialized expertise and culture that have made each successful while enabling deeper collaboration, broadened creative capabilities, scaled media offerings and state-of-the-art production studios. The enhanced offering will be led by Jessica Henrichs as CEO and David DeMuth as executive chairman.
"The Midwest isn't just where we're based; it's who we are. There is a sense of pride and a work ethic that shows up with purpose every day," said DeMuth. "It's a place where people care more about doing the right thing than getting credit for it. That spirit drives how we show up for each other, for our clients and for the brands we help build."
Doner is known for its strategic acumen, award-winning work and integrated production studios across retail, CPG, automotive, consumer services, technology and health care brands, and is a recent two-time "A-List" winner. Colle McVoy, a recent national "Agency of the Year" honoree, adds strength in media, design, PR and integrated campaign execution, particularly across CPG, QSR, home, lifestyle, retail and agriculture categories.
"This partnership is about more than strength and scale," said Henrichs. "We're rethinking how agencies can come together to better deliver for America's most iconic brands. We're creating a partnership that's agile, ambitious and deeply rooted in the values that matter most to clients today."
DonerColle Partners' client roster includes Stellantis, The UPS Store, Dairy Queen, La-Z-Boy, The Coca-Cola Company, 3M, Hackensack Meridian Health, Perdue Farms and McCormick & Company, among other major brands. The integration will begin immediately, with a phased rollout of combined operations, teams and branding throughout 2026.
About DonerColle Partners
DonerColle Partners is a newly combined Stagwell (STGW) partnership formed from two leading Stagwell agencies, each with 90 years of history. Grounded in a shared belief that great work comes from strong relationships, the partnership combines deep roots with modern marketing expertise across strategy, creative, media and digital, including AI-enhanced content development, insight generation and measurement. Built for the brands that move America, DonerColle Partners blends insight, craft and innovation to help brands connect meaningfully with people and drive lasting growth. To learn more, visit donercolle.com.
About Stagwell
Stagwell is the global challenger network transforming marketing through AI. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world's most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our specialists in 45+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for our clients. Join us at stagwellglobal.com.
CONTACT:
DonerColle Partners
Konnor Schmaltz
konnor.schmaltz@collemcvoy.com
SOURCE: Stagwell
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
FAQ
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