Advantage adds two leaders to expand global publishing reach

Advantage | The Authority Company is bringing in Rod Robertson and Stuart Robles to help expand Forbes Books’ global footprint and push deeper into financial services and Latin America. The appointments add international deal-making experience as the company looks to grow its authority-building business beyond current markets.

Why it matters: - Advantage is using two senior hires to accelerate growth outside its current core markets. - The company is targeting global publishing demand, new financial-sector verticals, and broader reach across Latin America. - The move could help Advantage attract authors and members in markets it has not yet served.

What happened: - Advantage | The Authority Company appointed Rod Robertson as publisher and Stuart Robles as VP of Authority Development. - Both leaders will focus on expanding Forbes Books, one of Advantage’s publishing imprints. - The company announced the appointments on September 3, 2026, in Charleston, South Carolina. - Adam Witty, founder and CEO of Advantage | The Authority Company, said Robertson and Robles are joining as the company expands its international reach in authority-building.

The details: - Robertson is the managing partner of Briggs Capital, an international mergers and acquisitions firm he founded in 2001. - Briggs Capital conducts financial transactions in more than 25 countries. - Robertson is the author of a trilogy of books on entrepreneurship. - Advantage said Robertson brings experience as a business owner, author, and investment banker. - Robles is an international business development executive and investment banker. - Robles is also a published author and fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. - Robles brings cross-border deal-making experience and a focus on what drives entrepreneurs to share their stories. - Robertson has advised as a banker and acted as a principal in starting, growing, and selling firms in 11 countries. - Robertson previously served as president and CEO for distribution, real estate, consumer products, and software companies. - Robertson is a frequent guest on podcasts, radio, and TV, and a guest lecturer at Harvard Business School, Babson College, and other colleges and MBA programs. - Robles is a senior partner at Briggs Capital and has a practice across the Americas. - Robles previously owned and exited two companies in the contact center and BPO space. - Robles earned an undergraduate degree at the University of Texas at Austin’s Red McCombs School of Business and an MBA at PUC Chile. - Robles has been a frequent speaker and has published in North America and internationally. - Advantage says Forbes Books authors are top thought leaders with a track record of success and access to a community of business experts and thought leaders. - Advantage was founded in 2005 and says it has helped thousands of clients build authority and personal brands. - Advantage Media operates offices in Charleston, South Carolina, and London. - Advantage’s services include publishing through six primary imprints: Forbes Books, Entrepreneur Books, SXSW Books, Advantage Books, Rethink Press, and Rethink Books. - The company also offers public relations, podcasting, personal brand websites, content creation, and brand strategy.

Between the lines: - The leadership changes point to a strategy that blends publishing with international business development. - Robertson and Robles bring financial-sector credibility that could appeal to CEOs, entrepreneurs, and other business leaders looking to publish as part of a broader brand strategy. - Their Latin America and cross-border experience suggests Advantage wants growth in regions where bilingual and multinational relationships matter. - Robertson’s comment that the “odyssey only begins once the book is published” reflects the company’s view of publishing as a starting point for business growth, not the end goal.

What's next: - Robertson and Robles will work to open new markets for Advantage and build long-term partnerships. - Advantage is expected to push further into financial services and international author acquisition as the two executives take on their new roles. - The company’s next phase likely centers on converting publishing relationships into broader authority-building services.

The bottom line: - Advantage is betting that international deal-making talent will help turn its publishing platform into a bigger global growth engine.