Zeta Global

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Zeta Global

Zeta Global Competitive Intelligence & Landscape

zetaglobal.com ·

Overview

Zeta Global Overview

Zeta Global (zetaglobal.com) is an AI-powered marketing cloud company that specializes in making sophisticated marketing simple. Their core offering, the Zeta Marketing Platform (ZMP), relaunched in 2019, utilizes advanced artificial intelligence and trillions of consumer signals to help marketers efficiently acquire, grow, and retain customers. The company's mission is to accelerate brand growth by enabling brands to build repeatable and scalable programs that drive higher ROI on marketing investments.

Zeta Global provides a unified platform that integrates identity, intelligence, and activation to create better experiences for consumers and improved results for brands. Their product suite includes Athena by Zeta™, a superintelligent agent built for marketers, which is powered by proprietary data and contextual intelligence, and integrates seamlessly with the ZMP. The platform offers capabilities like AI-powered customer experience, omnichannel activation across paid channels, a customer data platform, analytics and attribution, and customer messaging. They also cater to specific industries such as retail, travel & hospitality, financial services, and publishers, with solutions for acquisition, customer growth, retention, and loyalty.

The company was co-founded by David A. Steinberg, who has been on the board of directors since 2007 and serves as Chairman.

Zeta Global boasts a global presence with over 2,000 employees worldwide, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and individual growth. They recently announced a strategic partnership with Palantir to build a unified data and AI infrastructure, further enhancing their capabilities with Athena by Zeta™ at the center of this initiative.

Competitors

Zeta Global Competitors

Zeta Global operates in a highly competitive market, facing off against established technology giants and specialized marketing platforms. Among its chief competitors are Adobe, which offers a comprehensive suite of digital marketing and customer experience solutions through its Adobe Experience Cloud and Adobe Marketo Engage. Adobe's strength lies in its extensive integration across creative tools and enterprise software, making it a significant rival in terms of scale and feature breadth https://www.distillintelligence.com/competitors/zeta-global, https://businessmodelcanvastemplate.com/blogs/competitors/zeta-global-competitive-landscape.

Salesforce presents another major competitor with its Salesforce Marketing Cloud, which provides a wide array of tools for customer relationship management, marketing automation, and analytics. Like Adobe, Salesforce leverages its vast ecosystem and CRM dominance to offer integrated solutions that can challenge Zeta Global's AI-powered marketing cloud, particularly for large enterprises seeking unified platforms https://www.distillintelligence.com/competitors/zeta-global, https://businessmodelcanvastemplate.com/blogs/competitors/zeta-global-competitive-landscape.

Oracle is also a key player in the competitive landscape with its Oracle Advertising & CX offerings.

Oracle provides solutions that encompass customer experience, advertising, and marketing cloud services. Its strong presence in enterprise software and databases allows it to compete with Zeta Global by offering robust data management and analytical capabilities, appealing to businesses that prioritize comprehensive and integrated solutions from a single vendor https://businessmodelcanvastemplate.com/blogs/competitors/zeta-global-competitive-landscape.

HubSpot Marketing Hub emerges as a notable competitor, particularly for small to medium-sized businesses and those prioritizing inbound marketing strategies. While Zeta Global focuses on an AI marketing cloud leveraging proprietary data and contextual intelligence for predictable growth, HubSpot offers an all-in-one platform for CRM, sales, marketing, and customer service.

HubSpot's emphasis on ease of use and a broad range of integrated tools positions it as a strong alternative for companies looking for comprehensive marketing automation and customer engagement without the deep AI specialization of Zeta Global https://www.gartner.com/reviews/product/zeta-hub/alternatives, https://businessmodelcanvastemplate.com/blogs/competitors/zeta-global-competitive-landscape.

Alternatives

Zeta Global Alternatives

Product & Pricing

Zeta Global Product and Pricing Intelligence

Zeta Global (zetaglobal.com) offers the Zeta Marketing Platform (ZMP), an AI Marketing Cloud designed to empower marketers with a unified platform for connected experiences and predictable growth [zetaglobal.com]. The ZMP is a modular platform that logically groups various features and functions, covering a broad range of marketing needs through its layers, modules, and sub-modules [knowledgebase.zetaglobal.com/kb/zeta-product-definitions-modules]. Key offerings include Athena by Zeta, a "superintelligent agent built for marketers" that leverages proprietary data, contextual intelligence, and seamless integration with the ZMP [zetaglobal.com].

Within the Zeta Marketing Platform, specific product modules include Zeta Global Loyalty, an enterprise-grade platform for attracting, retaining, and deepening customer engagement through personalized, data-driven loyalty experiences [products.zetaglobal.com/loyalty/Content/Articles/Product%20Overview/Loyalty%20Solution%20Overview.html]. Another significant component is Cheetah Digital by Zeta, a cross-channel marketing platform that assists marketers in planning, creating, and delivering coordinated customer experiences from a single platform, enabling efficient campaign workflows and content reuse [products.zetaglobal.com/cheetahdigital/Content/hc/articles/Engage+/Product%20Overview/Engage-Solution-Overview-1.html]. The ZMP also supports AI-powered customer experience, omnichannel activation, customer data platform functionalities, analytics and attribution, and customer messaging [zetaglobal.com].

While Zeta Global does not publicly list specific pricing plans or tiers, their pricing models often involve Cost Per Mille (CPM), which is the cost per thousand ad impressions [knowledgebase.zetaglobal.com/pug/pricing-types]. They also utilize dynamic Cost Per Mille (dCPM), where the technology varies the CPM dynamically to reflect the actual price paid for an impression purchased at an exchange, typically with a maximum average value and optional minimum average value [knowledgebase.zetaglobal.com/pug/pricing-types]. The platform allows users to create and assign pricing to line items and tactics within campaigns [knowledgebase.zetaglobal.com/pug/step-2-line-items-tactics]. For detailed pricing information, potential clients can reach out to Zeta Global's strategic solutions team, and resources are available to help IT teams evaluate onboarding efforts during the pre-sales process [knowledgebase.zetaglobal.com/kb/zeta-pre-sales-materials].

Zeta Global emphasizes the value and return on investment (ROI) that their platform provides, particularly for brands and agencies [zetaglobal.com/industries/agencies/]. They offer resources like a Zeta Results Calculator to help prospective clients understand how the platform can lower their total cost of ownership over time [zetaglobal.com]. Discussion on pricing and value, especially concerning email service providers, is also part of their resource center content, suggesting a focus on communicating the overall value proposition of their solutions [zetaglobal.com/resource-center/the-best-rfp-leads-to-the-right-esp-episode-3-pricing-and-value/].

Hiring & Layoffs

Zeta Global Hiring and Layoffs

Zeta Global is actively seeking to expand its team, reflecting its ongoing growth and strategic focus on AI-powered marketing solutions. The company encourages interested individuals to "Join Team Zeta" and explore a variety of open roles across different departments, highlighting a straightforward application process where candidates can apply for multiple positions if their skills align [zetaglobal.com/about/benefits-and-hiring/]. With over 2,000 employees globally, Zeta Global emphasizes a culture of innovation, collaboration, and individual growth, signaling a commitment to attracting and retaining top talent [zetaglobal.com/about/life-at-zeta/].

The company's hiring patterns indicate a strong emphasis on its core mission to "Accelerate Brand Growth" through its AI-Powered Marketing Cloud [zetaglobal.com/about/our-story/]. This is further supported by the company's focus on its Zeta Marketing Platform (ZMP) and new offerings like Athena by Zeta™, a "superintelligent agent built for marketers" [zetaglobal.com/]. These initiatives suggest a need for professionals skilled in AI, data science, customer experience, and omnichannel activation to support its product development and service delivery.

While specific recent hiring trends are not detailed in the provided information, the company's clear call to "View Open Jobs" and its dedication to fostering an entrepreneurial spirit among its "best and brightest minds" within leadership [zetaglobal.com/about/leadership/] points to a continuous recruitment effort.

Zeta Global maintains a robust framework for handling job applicant data, including specific privacy notices for general applicants and those within the EEA, underscoring its structured approach to talent acquisition [zetaglobal.com/zeta-global-job-applicant-privacy-notice/] [zetaglobal.com/zeta-eea-recruitment-privacy-notice/].

There is no information available in the provided sources regarding recent layoffs at Zeta Global. Instead, the available content consistently highlights growth, innovation, and an active recruitment strategy. The company's expansion, including its partnership with Palantir to build AI infrastructure for enterprises [zetaglobal.com/], further suggests a period of growth rather than contraction, with offices in key locations like New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Nashville, and Hyderabad [zetaglobal.com/about/contact-us/].

Leadership

Zeta Global Management and Leadership Team

Zeta Global is led by a seasoned executive team, with David A. Steinberg serving as Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO. Mr. Steinberg has been a board member since 2007 and brings over 30 years of entrepreneurial experience to the company, having scaled five successful businesses in the technology sector prior to Zeta Global [investors.zetaglobal.com/governance/executive-management/default.aspx].

The leadership team also includes Christian Monberg, the Chief Technology Officer and Head of Product, who joined Zeta Global in 2017 and is responsible for the company's product and technical vision, with a focus on AI, data, and identity assets for the Zeta Marketing Platform [investors.zetaglobal.com/governance/board-of-directors/person-details/default.aspx?ItemId=75de1ee2-045e-4b94-8377-c3a7d52492c4].

Neej Gore is the Chief Data Officer, overseeing Zeta Global's global data and analytics strategy, the development of its identity graph, and innovation within the Opportunity Explorer platform [investors.zetaglobal.com/governance/board-of-directors/person-details/default.aspx?ItemId=62939995-60f4-4a66-8c1d-467556fe0aec].

Recent leadership appointments at Zeta Global include Ed See as Chief Growth Officer, effective February 10, bringing over 30 years of experience, including eight years as a Partner at McKinsey & Company’s Marketing and Sales practice [investors.zetaglobal.com/news/news-details/2025/Zeta-Global-Appoints-Ed-See-as-New-Chief-Growth-Officer/default.aspx]. Additionally, Pamela Lord was appointed President of Customer Relationship Management (CRM), adding over 25 years of experience in marketing technology to the team [investors.zetaglobal.com/news/news-details/2025/Zeta-Global-Appoints-Pamela-Lord-as-President-of-Customer-Relationship-Management-Strengthening-its-Leadership-in-AI-Powered-Marketing/default.aspx].

The senior leadership team listed on the company's website also features individuals such as John Sculley, Steven Gerber, Christopher Greiner, Steve Vine, and Candice Chafey [zetaglobal.com/about/leadership/]. The Board of Directors includes David A. Steinberg, Robert H. Niehaus, Jené Elzie, William Royan, William Landman, Imran Khan, and Jeanine Barnett Silberblatt [investors.zetaglobal.com/governance/committee-composition/default.aspx]. The Zeta Global Advisory Board also includes notable members such as John Sculley, Daniel Ives, and Moran Cerf [investors.zetaglobal.com/governance/board-of-directors/default.aspx].

Financials

Zeta Global Financial Performance, Fundraising, M&A

Zeta Global, an AI-powered marketing cloud, has demonstrated strong financial performance, consistently reporting revenue growth and increasing its financial guidance. For the full year 2025, Zeta Global delivered revenue of $1,305 million, marking a 30% year-over-year increase [zetaglobal.com/news/zeta-global-reports-18th-straight-beat-and-raise-quarter-and-record-full-year-2025-results/]. The company's fourth quarter of 2025 saw revenue reach $395 million, a 25% year-over-year increase, exceeding guidance [zetaglobal.com/news/zeta-global-reports-18th-straight-beat-and-raise-quarter-and-record-full-year-2025-results/]. Furthermore, Zeta Global generated $199 million in net cash from operating activities in 2025, a 49% increase year-over-year, and achieved $165 million in free cash flow, representing a 78% increase year-over-year [zetaglobal.com/news/zeta-global-reports-18th-straight-beat-and-raise-quarter-and-record-full-year-2025-results/].

Looking ahead, Zeta Global continues to project robust growth. For the first quarter of 2026, the company reported revenue of $396 million, an impressive 50% year-over-year increase [investors.zetaglobal.com/news/news-details/2026/Zeta-Global-Revenue-Growth-Accelerates-to-50-and-Beats-and-Raises-for-Its-19th-Consecutive-Quarter-on-the-Heels-of-the-Athena-by-Zeta-Launch/default.aspx]. This strong performance led to an increased full-year 2026 revenue guidance of $1,785 million at the midpoint, reflecting a 37% year-over-year growth [investors.zetaglobal.com/news/news-details/2026/Zeta-Global-Revenue-Growth-Accelerates-to-50-and-Beats-and-Raises-for-Its-19th-Consecutive-Quarter-on-the-Heels-of-the-Athena-by-Zeta-Launch/default.aspx]. The company has consistently delivered a “beat and raise” quarter, with the first quarter of 2026 being its 19th consecutive [investors.zetaglobal.com/news/news-details/2026/Zeta-Global-Revenue-Growth-Accelerates-to-50-and-Beats-and-Raises-for-Its-19th-Consecutive-Quarter-on-the-Heels-of-the-Athena-by-Zeta-Launch/default.aspx].

In terms of strategic growth, Zeta Global completed the acquisition of Marigold's enterprise software business in late 2025. This acquisition, which included brands such as Marigold Loyalty, Cheetah Digital, Selligent, Sailthru, Liveclicker, and Grow, involved an aggregate consideration of up to $325 million [zetaglobal.com/news/zeta-global-increases-2025-and-2026-guidance-following-the-completion-of-the-marigold-acquisition/]. This strategic move further enhanced Zeta Global's offerings and led to an increase in its 2025 and 2026 financial guidance [zetaglobal.com/news/zeta-global-increases-2025-and-2026-guidance-following-the-completion-of-the-marigold-acquisition/]. The company continues to focus on growing its Super-Scaled Customer count and ARPU, with an 18% increase in Super-Scaled Customers and a 21% increase in ARPU in the first quarter of 2026 [investors.zetaglobal.com/news/news-details/2026/Zeta-Global-Revenue-Growth-Accelerates-to-50-and-Beats-and-Raises-for-Its-19th-Consecutive-Quarter-on-the-Heels-of-the-Athena-by-Zeta-Launch/default.aspx].

Partnerships

Zeta Global Partnerships, Clients and Vendors

Zeta Global actively cultivates a robust ecosystem of partnerships to enhance its AI Marketing Cloud and the Zeta Marketing Platform (ZMP). A significant strategic partnership exists with Palantir, which involves rearchitecting Zeta's Data Cloud on Palantir's Foundry to create a unified data and AI infrastructure for marketing Palantir and Zeta Global Announce Strategic Partnership to Build a Unified Data and AI Infrastructure for the Future of Marketing, with Athena by Zeta™ at the Center. Furthermore, Zeta Global has teamed up with OpenAI to power the conversational intelligence and agentic applications within Athena by Zeta™, its superintelligent agent for enterprise marketing Zeta Global and OpenAI Team Up to Deliver Answer-Driven Marketing with Athena by Zeta.

The company also partners with leading technology providers such as Snowflake, collaborating on initiatives like the Open Semantic Interchange (OSI) to establish a universal data standard for AI-powered marketing Zeta Global Joins Forces with Snowflake to Spearhead Open Semantic Interchange to Establish a Universal Data Standard for AI-Powered Marketing.

Snowflake's cloud data platform is leveraged for data warehousing, data lakes, and data science, among other capabilities Snowflake - Zeta Global Tech Partner Directory. In terms of system integrators, Zeta Global works with companies like Accenture, a global professional services company Zeta’s network of industry-leading technology and solution partners keeps the Zeta Marketing Platform and our customers ahead of the curve in this dynamic digital landscape..

Zeta Global provides an extensive integration ecosystem for its platform, featuring connections to applications and channels. Notable featured integrations include 33Across Lexicon and Adobe Experience Platform and Adobe Audience Manager Marketing Platform Integrations and Ecosystem | Zeta Global. Beyond technology, Zeta Global also engages in solution partnerships, exemplified by its collaboration with Publicis to drive strategic outcomes for clients Publicis Partners with Zeta to Drive Better Strategic Outcomes for Clients. Additionally, Zeta Global has partnered with RallyPoint, a digital platform for military personnel and veterans, to enhance experiences and support for that community Zeta Global partners with RallyPoint to enhance experiences and increase support for the military and veteran community.

Events

Zeta Global Event Participations

Zeta Global is an active participant in various industry and investor events, demonstrating its commitment to thought leadership and engagement within the AI marketing space. The company hosts its own significant annual conference, Zeta Live, which serves as a major platform for marketing, AI, and technology leaders. For example, Zeta Live 2026 is scheduled for October 8, 2026, and will feature prominent keynote speakers such as Kevin Hart and Olympic Gold Medalist Lindsey Vonn [zetaglobal.com/news/zeta-global-announces-kevin-hart-as-first-keynote-for-sixth-annual-zeta-live-conference/|zetaglobal.com/news/zeta-global-announces-olympic-gold-medalist-and-philanthropist-lindsey-vonn-as-second-zeta-live-2026-keynote-speaker/]. Prior events like Zeta Live 2025 also drew considerable attention, featuring speakers such as Serena Williams and Tom Brady [zetaglobal.com/news/zeta-live-2025-unveils-expanded-lineup-serena-williams-and-tom-brady-anchor-a-three-stage-70-speaker-marquee-event/].

Beyond its proprietary events, Zeta Global actively participates in key industry conferences. The company announced its presence at CES 2026, where it planned exclusive programming, including a happy hour and fireside chat focusing on the future of AI-powered marketing and the evolution of its Athena by Zeta™ platform [zetaglobal.com/news/zeta-global-announces-exclusive-programming-at-ces-2026-exploring-the-future-of-ai-powered-marketing-and-evolution-of-athena-by-zeta/].

Zeta Global also maintains a strong presence in investor conferences to communicate its financial performance and strategic direction. Upcoming and archived investor events include participation in the JPM 2026 Global Technology, Media and Communications Conference on May 18, 2026, and the 38th Annual Roth Conference Panel on March 23, 2026 [investors.zetaglobal.com/events-and-presentations/default.aspx|zetaglobal.com/zeta-global-to-participate-in-upcoming-investor-conference-4/]. The company regularly hosts earnings calls, such as the Zeta Q1 2026 Earnings Call on April 30, 2026, to discuss its financial results [investors.zetaglobal.com/events-and-presentations/events/event-details/2026/Zeta-Q1-2026-Earnings-Call/default.aspx].

Further demonstrating its engagement with the investment community, Zeta Global participated in the 28th Annual Needham Growth Conference Fireside Chat on January 13, 2026 [investors.zetaglobal.com/events-and-presentations/events/event-details/2026/28th-Annual-Needham-Growth-Conference-Fireside-Chat-2026-CnPDvEFLji/default.aspx|zetaglobal.com/zeta-global-to-participate-in-upcoming-investor-conference/]. These diverse event participations highlight Zeta Global's efforts to connect with various stakeholders, from marketing professionals and industry leaders to investors, reinforcing its position as a key player in the AI marketing cloud sector.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Zeta Global's current strategy for expanding its AI capabilities and data infrastructure?

Zeta Global is strategically enhancing its AI capabilities and data infrastructure through key partnerships. They are rearchitecting their Data Cloud on Palantir's Foundry to establish a unified data and AI infrastructure, with Athena by Zeta™ at its core. Additionally, Zeta Global has partnered with OpenAI to power the conversational intelligence and agentic applications within Athena by Zeta™, and collaborates with Snowflake on initiatives like the Open Semantic Interchange to set a universal data standard for AI-powered marketing.

What does Zeta Global's consistent 'beat and raise' financial performance imply about its market position and investor confidence?

Zeta Global's consistent 'beat and raise' performance, including its 19th consecutive quarter of exceeding guidance in Q1 2026, implies a strong and improving market position, particularly in the AI marketing cloud sector. This sustained financial outperformance, coupled with increased revenue guidance for 2026 to $1,785 million, suggests growing investor confidence and effective execution of its strategic initiatives, such as the launch of Athena by Zeta™ and the Marigold acquisition.

Given the acquisition of Marigold's enterprise software business in late 2025, what impact has this had on Zeta Global's product portfolio and financial outlook?

The acquisition of Marigold's enterprise software business in late 2025 significantly expanded Zeta Global's product portfolio, integrating brands like Marigold Loyalty, Cheetah Digital, Selligent, Sailthru, Liveclicker, and Grow. This strategic move directly contributed to an increase in Zeta Global's financial guidance for both 2025 and 2026, demonstrating its immediate positive impact on the company's market offerings and expected revenue growth.

How is Zeta Global addressing the need for specialized talent to support its AI-driven marketing cloud, especially with new offerings like Athena by Zeta™?

Zeta Global is actively recruiting to support its AI-driven marketing cloud and new offerings like Athena by Zeta™, indicating a strong focus on acquiring professionals skilled in AI, data science, customer experience, and omnichannel activation. The company emphasizes a culture of innovation and growth among its over 2,000 global employees, signaling a continuous effort to attract and retain top talent to drive product development and service delivery.

What is Zeta Global's strategy for engaging with the broader marketing and investment communities?

Zeta Global employs a multi-faceted strategy for engaging with the marketing and investment communities. It hosts its own annual conference, Zeta Live, featuring prominent speakers like Kevin Hart and Lindsey Vonn, and participates in industry events such as CES to discuss AI-powered marketing. The company also maintains a strong presence at investor conferences like JPM and Roth, and regularly hosts earnings calls to communicate financial performance and strategic direction.

With recent leadership appointments like Ed See as Chief Growth Officer and Pamela Lord as President of CRM, what strategic areas is Zeta Global prioritizing?

With the recent appointments of Ed See as Chief Growth Officer and Pamela Lord as President of Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Zeta Global appears to be prioritizing strategic growth and strengthening its core customer engagement capabilities within the AI-powered marketing space. Ed See's background at McKinsey's Marketing and Sales practice and Pamela Lord's experience in marketing technology suggest a focus on expanding market reach and enhancing customer relationship management offerings.

How does Zeta Global differentiate its AI-Powered Marketing Cloud from competitors like Adobe Experience Cloud and Salesforce Marketing Cloud?

Zeta Global differentiates its AI-Powered Marketing Cloud by specializing in making sophisticated marketing simple through its proprietary data, contextual intelligence, and unified platform for identity, intelligence, and activation. While competitors like Adobe and Salesforce offer comprehensive digital marketing suites, Zeta Global focuses on predictable growth via its ZMP and Athena by Zeta™, a superintelligent agent built for marketers, which leverages trillions of consumer signals for efficient customer acquisition, growth, and retention.

What role does the Zeta Marketing Platform (ZMP) play in Zeta Global's overall product strategy, especially concerning new offerings and acquisitions?

The Zeta Marketing Platform (ZMP) serves as the core of Zeta Global's product strategy, acting as a modular, AI-Powered Marketing Cloud for connected experiences. It integrates new offerings like Athena by Zeta™ and accommodates capabilities gained through acquisitions, such as Marigold's enterprise software business (including Cheetah Digital and Zeta Global Loyalty), to provide a unified platform for AI-powered customer experience, omnichannel activation, customer data management, analytics, and messaging.

How does Zeta Global approach pricing for its AI Marketing Cloud and what factors influence its cost structure for clients?

Zeta Global's pricing for its AI Marketing Cloud primarily utilizes Cost Per Mille (CPM) and dynamic Cost Per Mille (dCPM), where the cost per thousand ad impressions can vary based on actual impression prices at an exchange. While specific pricing plans are not publicly listed, the company encourages direct engagement with its strategic solutions team and provides resources like a Zeta Results Calculator to demonstrate the platform's value and potential for lowering total cost of ownership for brands and agencies.

What kind of data providers serve as direct alternatives to Zeta Global, and how do they differ in their core offerings?

Direct alternatives to Zeta Global specifically in identity graph data provision include companies like Versium, Webbula, Factori, and Sagacity. These providers specialize in furnishing data products for customer identity understanding, recognition, enrichment, and verification. This contrasts with Zeta Global's broader AI Marketing Cloud, which integrates identity resolution as one component within its comprehensive platform for customer experience and omnichannel activation.

How is Zeta Global leveraging its relationships with high-profile individuals and industry events to enhance its brand and strategic positioning?

Zeta Global leverages relationships with high-profile individuals and industry events to bolster its brand and strategic positioning by featuring prominent keynote speakers like Kevin Hart, Lindsey Vonn, Serena Williams, and Tom Brady at its annual Zeta Live conference. This strategy, combined with active participation in industry events like CES, positions Zeta Global as a thought leader in AI marketing and demonstrates its commitment to engaging with key stakeholders in both the marketing and technology sectors.

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