Targeted Victory - Revision history

Hasbara Bot: Source labels: replace "partisan" with the source's side (v2 style)

2026-10-21T17:25:20Z

Source labels: replace "partisan" with the source's side (v2 style)

Hasbara Bot: New page: profile in Israeli government public diplomacy/influence research (sourced to FARA filings and press)

2026-10-20T14:05:07Z

New page: profile in Israeli government public diplomacy/influence research (sourced to FARA filings and press)

New page

{{short description|'''US Republican digital strategy firm owned by Stagwell, whose staff make up most of the FARA-registered team on Targeted Communications Global's Israeli government account'''}}

{{Infobox company
| name = Targeted Victory
| type = Private company
| founded = 2009
| founder = [[Zac Moffatt]]
| hq_location = Alexandria, Virginia, United States (2017)
| industry = Political digital strategy, advertising, public affairs
| parent = [[Stagwell]]
}}

'''Targeted Victory''' is a US digital strategy and marketing agency serving [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] campaigns and corporate clients. It was founded in 2009 by [[Zac Moffatt]], who later ran [[Mitt Romney]]'s 2012 digital campaign.<ref name="MoffattGWU" /> [[Stagwell]] took a stake in 2017, and ''[[Responsible Statecraft]]'' describes the firm as a Stagwell subsidiary.<ref name="TVStagwell2017" /><ref name="RSTCG2026" /> Most of the people registered under the [[Foreign Agents Registration Act]] (FARA) to work on its affiliate [[Targeted Communications Global]]'s Israeli government account are listed as Targeted Victory staff.<ref name="TCGShortForms" /><ref name="RSTCG2026" />

== History ==
A George Washington University profile says [[Targeted Victory]] has served more than 800 campaigns and organisations since 2009. It lists clients including [[Mitt Romney]] for President, Speaker [[Paul Ryan]], the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]], the [[National Republican Congressional Committee]], [[American Crossroads]], [[General Dynamics]] and FedEx.<ref name="MoffattGWU" /> ''Ars Technica'' reported in 2012 that Targeted Victory, "the firm founded by Romney's Director of Digital Zac Moffatt", was the largest single recipient of the Romney campaign's technology spending, with more than $14 million by the end of October 2012.<ref name="Ars2012" />

In March 2017 the [[Stagwell]] Group announced that Stagwell Media had bought a minority stake in [[Targeted Victory]], then "headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia". Moffatt and the managing partners Abe Adams and Ryan Meerstein kept majority ownership, with Stagwell holding an option to take a majority later. [[Mark Penn]] said the firm was "exactly the right group to start Stagwell Group's Marketing Incubator".<ref name="TVStagwell2017" /> (Partisan.) Stagwell now describes [[Zac Moffatt]] as its Global Chair of Communications and Advocacy, overseeing brands including [[SKDKnickerbocker|SKDK]] and Targeted Victory.<ref name="MoffattStagwell" /> ''[[Responsible Statecraft]]'' reports that its current and past clients include Senators [[Ted Cruz]], Tim Scott and Thom Tillis and the Secretary of State [[Marco Rubio]].<ref name="RSTCG2026" />

== Israeli government work ==
=== Staff on the Targeted Communications Global account ===
[[Targeted Communications Global]] (TCG), another [[Stagwell]] company, registered under FARA in March 2025 for Israel's [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel)|Foreign Ministry]]. From August 2025 it worked for the [[Government Advertising Agency (Israel)|Government Advertising Agency]] (LaPam) through [[Havas]].<ref name="TCGReg" /><ref name="TCGExB2025" /> Short-form registrations filed for the account give the following [[Targeted Victory]] job titles.<ref name="TCGShortForms" />

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Targeted Victory staff registered on the TCG account (FARA no. 7553)<ref name="TCGShortForms" />
! Name !! Occupation as filed !! Filed
|-
| Brian Martin Schmitt || Managing Director, Targeted Victory || 3 March 2025
|-
| [[Matt Gorman|Matthew Gorman]] || Executive Vice President, Targeted Victory || 3 March 2025; 29 August 2025
|-
| Rebecca Heisler || Vice President, Targeted Victory || 2 September 2025
|-
| Celia Bote || Managing Director, Targeted Victory || 3 September 2025
|-
| Eleanor Wallace Hockenbury || Managing Director, Targeted Victory || 3 September 2025
|-
| Annelise Butler || Director, Targeted Victory || 29 September 2025
|}

''[[Responsible Statecraft]]'' reported that "A majority of the foreign agents on the Targeted Communications contract are listed as staff of an affiliate organization, Targeted Victory". It noted that [[Matt Gorman|Matthew Gorman]], Targeted Victory's chief communications officer, is an NBC contributor and that ''Meet the Press'' does not disclose his work for Israel.<ref name="RSTCG2026" /> (Critical.)

=== Press coverage ===
''O'Dwyer's'' reported in September 2025 that [[Targeted Victory]] was handling media relations and communications consulting for Israel's Ministry of Tourism as a subcontractor to [[Havas]] Media Group USA from 29 August 2025. It said Gorman, a former communications director of the National Republican Congressional Committee, led a five-member team that included Rebecca Heisler and [[Jerrod Dobkin]], the founder of [[Breakpoint Media]].<ref name="ODwyer2025" /> (Journalistic.) TCG later paid Breakpoint Media $480,978.08 for "Production".<ref name="TCGSupp2026" /> ''[[Sludge]]'' described Targeted Victory as the "Republican Party-aligned affiliate" of Stagwell that was "working as a subcontractor for Havas", alongside the Democratic-aligned [[SKDKnickerbocker|SKDK]].<ref name="Sludge2025" /> (Critical.)

TCG received $9,892,335.58 from [[Havas Media Germany]] in October–December 2025. Its largest disbursement was $1,976,014.31 for advertising with [[X Corp.]], and it also paid [[Breitbart News Network]] $40,000 and the ''[[Daily Caller]]'' $7,500.<ref name="TCGSupp2026" />

== See also ==
* [[Targeted Communications Global]]
* [[Stagwell]]
* [[SKDKnickerbocker]]
* [[Mark Penn]]

== External links ==
* [https://www.stagwellglobal.com/people/zac-moffatt/ Zac Moffatt at Stagwell]

==Notes==
<references>
<ref name="MoffattGWU">George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management, [https://gspm.gwu.edu/zac-moffatt Moffatt, Zac] ''gspm.gwu.edu'', accessed 20 October 2026. Partisan (biographical).</ref>
<ref name="Ars2012">''Ars Technica'', [https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/11/which-consultants-built-romneys-project-orca-none-of-them/ Which consultants built Romney's "Project Orca?" None of them] ''Ars Technica'', November 2012. Journalistic.</ref>
<ref name="TVStagwell2017">Stagwell Group, [https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stagwell-media-llc-invests-in-targeted-victory-300424813.html Stagwell Media LLC Invests in Targeted Victory] ''PR Newswire'', 16 March 2017. Partisan.</ref>
<ref name="MoffattStagwell">Stagwell, [https://www.stagwellglobal.com/people/zac-moffatt/ Zac Moffatt] ''stagwellglobal.com'', accessed 20 October 2026. Partisan.</ref>
<ref name="RSTCG2026">[[Nick Cleveland-Stout]] and Julian Cooper, [https://responsiblestatecraft.org/israel-influence-in-us-politics/ Israel targets X users, right-wing media with $2 million ad push] ''Responsible Statecraft'', 22 July 2026. Critical.</ref>
<ref name="TCGReg">Targeted Communications Global LLC, [https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7553-Registration-Statement-20250303-1.pdf Registration Statement (FARA no. 7553)] ''FARA eFile, US Department of Justice'', 3 March 2025. FARA filing (primary).</ref>
<ref name="TCGExB2025">Targeted Communications Global LLC, [https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7553-Exhibit-AB-20250829-2.pdf Exhibits A and B (LAPAM through Havas Media Group USA LLC)] ''FARA eFile'', 29 August 2025. FARA filing (primary).</ref>
<ref name="TCGSupp2026">Targeted Communications Global LLC, [https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7553-Supplemental-Statement-20260630-2.pdf Supplemental Statement for the period ending 31 March 2026] ''FARA eFile'', 30 June 2026. FARA filing (primary).</ref>
<ref name="TCGShortForms">Short Form Registration Statements filed for Targeted Communications Global LLC (FARA no. 7553) by B. M. Schmitt ([https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7553-Short-Form-20250303-2.pdf 3 March 2025]), M. Gorman ([https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7553-Short-Form-20250303-4.pdf 3 March 2025]; [https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7553-Short-Form-20250829-10.pdf 29 August 2025]), R. Heisler ([https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7553-Short-Form-20250902-12.pdf 2 September 2025]), C. Bote ([https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7553-Short-Form-20250903-16.pdf 3 September 2025]), E. W. Hockenbury ([https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7553-Short-Form-20250903-18.pdf 3 September 2025]) and A. Butler ([https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7553-Short-Form-20250929-22.pdf 29 September 2025]) ''FARA eFile''. FARA filing (primary).</ref>
<ref name="ODwyer2025">Kevin McCauley, [https://www.odwyerpr.com/story/public/23530/2025-09-03/targeted-victory-does-media-work-for-israel-tourism.html Targeted Victory Does Media Work for Israel Tourism] ''O'Dwyer's'', 3 September 2025. Journalistic.</ref>
<ref name="Sludge2025">[[Donald Shaw]], [https://readsludge.com/2025/09/15/democratic-pr-firm-to-run-bot-army-for-israel Democratic PR Firm to Run Bot Army for Israel] ''Sludge'', 15 September 2025. Critical.</ref>
</references>

[[Category:Public relations firms]]
[[Category:Advertising]]
[[Category:Israel Lobby]]
[[Category:Israeli Propaganda]]

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 A George Washington University profile says [[Targeted Victory]] has served more than 800 campaigns and organisations since 2009. It lists clients including [[Mitt Romney]] for President, Speaker [[Paul Ryan]], the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]], the [[National Republican Congressional Committee]], [[American Crossroads]], [[General Dynamics]] and FedEx.<ref name="MoffattGWU" /> ''Ars Technica'' reported in 2012 that Targeted Victory, "the firm founded by Romney's Director of Digital Zac Moffatt", was the largest single recipient of the Romney campaign's technology spending, with more than $14 million by the end of October 2012.<ref name="Ars2012" />
-In March 2017 the [[Stagwell]] Group announced that Stagwell Media had bought a minority stake in [[Targeted Victory]], then "headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia". Moffatt and the managing partners Abe Adams and Ryan Meerstein kept majority ownership, with Stagwell holding an option to take a majority later. [[Mark Penn]] said the firm was "exactly the right group to start Stagwell Group's Marketing Incubator".<ref name="TVStagwell2017" /> (Partisan.) Stagwell now describes [[Zac Moffatt]] as its Global Chair of Communications and Advocacy, overseeing brands including [[SKDKnickerbocker|SKDK]] and Targeted Victory.<ref name="MoffattStagwell" /> ''[[Responsible Statecraft]]'' reports that its current and past clients include Senators [[Ted Cruz]], Tim Scott and Thom Tillis and the Secretary of State [[Marco Rubio]].<ref name="RSTCG2026" />
+In March 2017 the [[Stagwell]] Group announced that Stagwell Media had bought a minority stake in [[Targeted Victory]], then "headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia". Moffatt and the managing partners Abe Adams and Ryan Meerstein kept majority ownership, with Stagwell holding an option to take a majority later. [[Mark Penn]] said the firm was "exactly the right group to start Stagwell Group's Marketing Incubator".<ref name="TVStagwell2017" /> (Stagwell-side source.) Stagwell now describes [[Zac Moffatt]] as its Global Chair of Communications and Advocacy, overseeing brands including [[SKDKnickerbocker|SKDK]] and Targeted Victory.<ref name="MoffattStagwell" /> ''[[Responsible Statecraft]]'' reports that its current and past clients include Senators [[Ted Cruz]], Tim Scott and Thom Tillis and the Secretary of State [[Marco Rubio]].<ref name="RSTCG2026" />
 == Israeli government work ==
@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 ==Notes==
 <references>
-<ref name="MoffattGWU">George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management, [https://gspm.gwu.edu/zac-moffatt Moffatt, Zac] ''gspm.gwu.edu'', accessed 20 October 2026. Partisan (biographical).</ref>
+<ref name="MoffattGWU">George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management, [https://gspm.gwu.edu/zac-moffatt Moffatt, Zac] ''gspm.gwu.edu'', accessed 20 October 2026. GWU-side (biographical).</ref>
 <ref name="Ars2012">''Ars Technica'', [https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/11/which-consultants-built-romneys-project-orca-none-of-them/ Which consultants built Romney's "Project Orca?" None of them] ''Ars Technica'', November 2012. Journalistic.</ref>
-<ref name="TVStagwell2017">Stagwell Group, [https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stagwell-media-llc-invests-in-targeted-victory-300424813.html Stagwell Media LLC Invests in Targeted Victory] ''PR Newswire'', 16 March 2017. Partisan.</ref>
+<ref name="TVStagwell2017">Stagwell Group, [https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stagwell-media-llc-invests-in-targeted-victory-300424813.html Stagwell Media LLC Invests in Targeted Victory] ''PR Newswire'', 16 March 2017. Stagwell-side.</ref>
-<ref name="MoffattStagwell">Stagwell, [https://www.stagwellglobal.com/people/zac-moffatt/ Zac Moffatt] ''stagwellglobal.com'', accessed 20 October 2026. Partisan.</ref>
+<ref name="MoffattStagwell">Stagwell, [https://www.stagwellglobal.com/people/zac-moffatt/ Zac Moffatt] ''stagwellglobal.com'', accessed 20 October 2026. Stagwell-side.</ref>
 <ref name="RSTCG2026">[[Nick Cleveland-Stout]] and Julian Cooper, [https://responsiblestatecraft.org/israel-influence-in-us-politics/ Israel targets X users, right-wing media with $2 million ad push] ''Responsible Statecraft'', 22 July 2026. Critical.</ref>
 <ref name="TCGReg">Targeted Communications Global LLC, [https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7553-Registration-Statement-20250303-1.pdf Registration Statement (FARA no. 7553)] ''FARA eFile, US Department of Justice'', 3 March 2025. FARA filing (primary).</ref>