Newsweek Features Sitecore CEO Eric Stine and Scrunch CEO Chris Andrew on AI Search
Newsweek’s AI Impact newsletter led its September 18, 2026 edition with Sitecore CEO Eric Stine and Scrunch CEO Chris Andrew, who explained why strong SEO metrics can hide a growing AI search problem for brands. Written by Newsweek AI Editor Adam Mills, the dual feature examines how marketers can tell whether their visibility in ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and other AI platforms is improving or slipping.
The piece draws on a survey by Scrunch (recently acquired by Sitecore) and Scribewise of 602 U.S. marketing and PR professionals. 62% of in-house marketers said leaders outside their department still judge them on traditional SEO or web traffic, and 56% could not tell AI search optimization apart from traditional SEO.
Stine and Andrew recommend tracking a consistent set of prompts over time, watching which sources AI answers cite, and treating AI agent traffic as a buyer-intent signal rather than spam.
What Eric Stine and Chris Andrew Said
“You can’t edit the answer, but you can change what the answer is built from,” Stine and Andrew told Newsweek.
That line sums up the shift: AI answers are built from citations, reviews and media coverage that brands don’t fully control, so earned media and content strategy now shape how buyers find a company.
How Escalate PR Secured Newsweek’s AI Impact Feature
After Sitecore announced its acquisition of Scrunch this summer, Escalate PR was tasked with finding a high-visibility, business-focused audience where both CEOs could tell a deeper story about the AI search problems facing brand marketers. Newsweek’s AI Impact newsletter, written for business leaders adopting AI, was the right fit.
The angle positioned AI visibility as a new metric. If a brand isn’t on top of its citations, media coverage and customer reviews, it falls behind as answer engines recommend options to buyers and partners. The story also extends Sitecore’s digital experience narrative into the AI search era.
Services provided: Media Relations and Executive Thought Leadership.
Read the Full Article
You can access the full article “Your Brand May Be Losing Ground in AI Search” on Newsweek’s website using this link: https://www.newsweek.com/your-brand-may-be-losing-ground-in-ai-search-12460604
FAQs
How does Escalate PR help enterprise tech companies get coverage in top-tier outlets like Newsweek?
Escalate PR builds a story around a news moment, then finds the outlet and audience where executives can expand it. For Sitecore, that meant taking the Scrunch acquisition to Newsweek’s AI Impact newsletter, with both CEOs offering practical guidance on AI search visibility.
How does Escalate PR turn an acquisition into executive thought leadership coverage?
After Sitecore acquired Scrunch, Escalate PR looked for a high-visibility, business-focused audience where both CEOs could tell a deeper story than the deal itself. Newsweek’s AI Impact newsletter was the right fit, and the feature paired both CEOs with survey data and practical advice for marketers on AI search visibility.
Does Escalate PR specialize in enterprise technology PR?
Yes. Escalate PR is a senior-only B2B tech PR agency that turns complex enterprise software, SaaS and martech stories into top-tier and trade coverage. Every consultant brings 15+ years of experience.
About Escalate PR
Escalate PR makes world-changing technology impossible to ignore. Our senior team helps enterprise tech and SaaS companies earn coverage that builds visibility in traditional search and AI answers alike. Learn more about our enterprise tech PR strategies.