Quad announced on November 4, 2026, that Rise, its omnichannel media agency, has been included as a Contender in The Forrester Wave: Media Management Services, Q4 2026.

Key Highlights

  • Contender designation: Rise is included as a Contender in The Forrester Wave: Media Management Services, Q4 2026, authored by Forrester vice president and principal analyst Jay Pattisall.
  • Forrester's characterization: The report describes Rise as pushing "beyond performance optimization to marketing intelligence optimization."
  • Target fit: Forrester describes Rise as "a good fit for North American marketers with complex, brand-to-local needs who want hands-on execution and full-funnel media."
  • Awards in 2026: Earlier in 2026, Rise received a Bronze Effie Award, finalist recognition in the 2026 AdExchanger Awards, and a Jay Chiat Silver Award.
  • Prior Forrester recognition: Rise was also recognized in Forrester's Media Management Services Landscape, the report that precedes the Wave evaluation.
  • Key executives quoted: Joshua Lowcock, Chief Media Innovation and Data Officer at Quad, and Cari Bucci-Hulings, President of Quad's agencies Betty, Favorite Child and Rise, both provided statements in the announcement.

Quad's Rise Agency Earns Spot in Forrester's Q4 2026 Media Management Wave

Quad (NYSE:QUAD) disclosed on November 4, 2026, that its omnichannel media agency, Rise, has been named a Contender in The Forrester Wave: Media Management Services, Q4 2026. According to the filing, the report evaluates and scores "the most significant media management services providers in the marketplace." The evaluation was authored by Forrester vice president and principal analyst Jay Pattisall.

According to the announcement, Forrester's report describes Rise's positioning as reflecting a belief "that long-term growth opportunities are found through incremental market improvements rather than optimization for national performance averages." Customers interviewed for the report were cited as appreciating Rise's "buying execution, local market understanding, search expertise, and data collaboration," according to the filing.

Joshua Lowcock, Chief Media Innovation and Data Officer at Quad, stated in the announcement that the inclusion "reflects the value of the model we've been working hard to build over the last several years," citing elements including "transparent pricing and media investment, business-outcome-focused measurement, and access to Quad's creative, production and commerce capabilities." Cari Bucci-Hulings, President of Quad's agencies Betty, Favorite Child and Rise, noted in the filing that "as Rise grows, it strengthens what Quad's agencies can offer together." The filing also notes that the Forrester Wave inclusion follows Rise's earlier 2026 recognition in the Forrester Media Management Services Landscape.

What Was Disclosed

Quad announced that its Rise agency was included as a Contender in The Forrester Wave: Media Management Services, Q4 2026, following earlier 2026 industry award recognitions. The announcement included executive commentary on Rise's positioning and growth strategy.