A new chapter for employer branding in Europe began in Bucharest. During EBcon 2026, the European Association of Employer Branding Agencies (EAEBA) officially became the Employer Branding Alliance—a new identity that reflects a broader vision and deeper collaboration.
For Catalyst Solutions, both a member of the Alliance and the organiser of EBcon, hosting this moment was especially meaningful. The launch brought together leaders of independent agencies that are shaping the future of employer brand their local markets and beyond.
More than a new name
Founded in 2019 as the European Association of Employer Branding Agencies, the network was created to connect outstanding independent agencies and help them achieve more together. Its evolution into the Employer Branding Alliance signals that the community has grown beyond the boundaries suggested by its former name, while preserving the principles on which it was built: independence, strong local expertise, shared learning and meaningful collaboration.
Launched at EBcon
The Employer Branding Alliance was officially launched during the seventh edition of EBcon, the regional employer branding conference powered by Catalyst Solutions, held in Bucharest on 11–12 May 2026. EBcon was a natural setting for the announcement. Created as a space where local and international experts exchange ideas, tools and real-world solutions, the conference shares the Alliance’s commitment to learning, collaboration and progress. The 2026 edition welcomed more than 400 professionals and focused on helping organisations strengthen their employer brands in an increasingly competitive and fast-changing talent market. The conversation will continue at the eighth edition of EBcon, taking place on 17–18 May 2027 in Bucharest, under the theme “Built, Not Branded.” The event will look beyond how employer brands are communicated to explore how they are truly built—through culture, leadership, employee and candidate experience, career opportunities, meaningful communication and advocacy. Find out more here: EBcon
Launching the Alliance in Bucharest also underlined Romania’s growing role in the regional employer branding conversation. It connected the energy of the local community with an international network capable of turning diverse market perspectives into stronger strategies and better outcomes.
Strong locally, connected globally
The Employer Branding Alliance brings together carefully selected independent agencies that lead in their local markets. Member selection is based on strategic quality, commercial maturity, cultural fit and a genuine openness to collaboration.
The current network includes d-artagnan in Belgium, Enstring in Croatia, Instar in Estonia, Brandfizz in Hungary, Clubgeist in the Netherlands, Grupa MBE in Poland, Catalyst Solutions in Romania and TMP Worldwide in the United Kingdom.
This structure gives clients the best of both worlds: direct access to specialists who understand the realities of a local labour market and the collective perspective of agencies working across multiple countries. The Alliance can support international briefs while keeping strategies culturally relevant, authentic and practical in every market.
For member agencies, collaboration opens access to shared knowledge, tools and research, as well as collective learning programmes, specialist working groups, trusted peer relationships and opportunities to collaborate on international pitches and projects.
What it means for clients
Employer branding challenges increasingly extend beyond one market or one communication campaign. Organisations need to align global ambition with local expectations, translate an Employee Value Proposition across cultures and build consistent experiences without erasing the differences that matter to candidates and employees.
Through the Employer Branding Alliance, Catalyst Solutions can connect Romanian market intelligence with international expertise. Clients can benefit from broader strategic perspectives, specialised capabilities and local insight from partner agencies while working within a trusted collaborative framework.
Going further together
The Employer Branding Alliance is now ready for its next stage: stronger connections, broader perspectives and employer branding solutions built to travel across borders while remaining meaningfully local.
To explore how Catalyst Solutions and the Employer Branding Alliance can support an employer branding challenge in Romania or across multiple markets, contact us at angajatori@catalyst.ro
