Google Selects Hawke Media as First Partner for New Global Expansion Initiative
Los Angeles, Thursday, 5 March 2026.
As the inaugural partner in Google’s exclusive international growth program, Hawke Media gains unique access to forecasting tools designed to help brands model profitability before entering global markets.
Strategic Validation for Cross-Border Commerce
On March 5, 2026, Hawke Media formally announced its selection as the first agency to join this invite-only ecosystem [1]. The International Growth Certified Partner Program is specifically engineered to provide select agencies with high-level tools and direct access to Google’s global expansion teams, validating their ability to scale businesses across international borders [1]. This initiative addresses critical hurdles in global commerce, particularly the volatility of performance metrics like cost-per-click and conversion rates when crossing borders [1]. Erik Huberman, Founder and CEO of Hawke Media, highlighted the analytical gap this program aims to close, stating, “What works in the U.S. does not automatically translate abroad” [1].
Advanced Forecasting and Strategic Tools
By joining the program, Hawke Media gains access to proprietary resources including Cross-Market Competitive Insights and Advanced Market Forecasting Tools [1]. These instruments, combined with direct collaboration with Google’s global teams, enable the agency to offer localized creative guidance and operational expansion support [1]. Crucially, this allows clients to model profitability before committing capital, shifting international expansion from a speculative endeavor to a data-backed strategy [1]. This capability is particularly vital for brands planning expansion in 2026, as it facilitates a precise evaluation of potential markets using modeled performance benchmarks [1].
Criteria and Corporate Trajectory
Google’s criteria for this exclusive partnership focused on three key performance indicators: international campaign success, the diversity of the client portfolio, and adherence to platform best practices [1]. Hawke Media, a Google Premier Partner utilizing its proprietary HawkeAI system, leveraged its experience growing 6,000 brands—such as Red Bull, Barstool Sports, and Crocs—to secure this position [1]. Based in Santa Monica, California, the firm continues to bolster its internal capabilities alongside this new partnership, actively recruiting for strategic communication roles as of March 4, 2026, to support its widening operational scope [2].