As agencies exit Russia, questions arise over lasting consequences

The reassessment of Russia's role in the ad ecosystem could call attention to how fraud and botnet schemes impact publishers and trickle down to agencies.

By Peter Adams • April 11, 2022

Podcast advertising prospers but needs solutions to reach full potential

To fully unlock the digital audio ad market, the podcast industry will need to streamline its tech infrastructure and fully embrace programmatic.

By Chris Kelly • April 4, 2022

80% of CMOs turn to agencies for TV strategies amid streaming shift

While 58% of CMOs are comfortable with an increasingly complex video environment, most rely on agencies to create and execute a TV ad buying plan.

By Chris Kelly • April 4, 2022

Nielsen acquired for $16B amid ongoing measurement fallout

Going private tees up major changes at a time when the firm's position as a leading measurement provider faces intense challenges.

By Peter Adams • April 4, 2022

Kroger opens ad inventory to third-party platforms in latest scale play

GroupM is an early agency partner testing the capability focused on sponsored product listings, which are now used by over 2,000 brands.

By Peter Adams • March 28, 2022

Good-Loop ties purpose to ad views for a better internet

Expanding in the U.S. could help broaden the company's mission to address the disconnect between brands wanting to be purposeful and intrusive ads.

By Aaron Baar • March 28, 2022

Dunkin' CMO departs after 9 months

While Rafael Acevedo's tenure was short, changes overseen by the executive — including naming Anomaly creative AOR — could carry a lasting impact.

By Peter Adams • March 28, 2022

Burger King serves up poop emoji ice cream to highlight clean ingredients

From the agency that made waves — and upset stomachs — with the Moldy Whopper comes another controversial campaign around the QSR's removal of artificial ingredients.

By Chris Kelly • March 23, 2022

Ad industry's response to Russia: The story so far

All six major ad holding groups have started winding down operations, while consumer brands are grappling with tough questions around ethics as they weigh similar options.

By Peter Adams • March 21, 2022

Dentsu is NBCUnified's first agency partner as media giant continues data push

The first-of-its-kind integration will allow for matches with NBCU IDs that comprise 150 million person-level IDs tied to 80 million households.

By Chris Kelly • March 21, 2022

Inside Macy's plan to scale its budding retail media business

Enriching formats like landing pages is taking priority as the department store chain aims to launch a self-service marketplace in the second half of 2022.

By Peter Adams • March 21, 2022

Omnicom, Dentsu pull out of Russia, marking final major agency departures

Like other holding companies, both are relying on local partners to facilitate a transfer of control and provide continuity to Russian employees.

By Peter Adams • March 17, 2022

Publicis joins agency exit from Russia, passing control to local management

The change in ownership includes a "clear contractual condition" to try and ensure employees in the region have a future with the group.

By Peter Adams • March 16, 2022

Brands face another test as emotions run high around Ukraine war

There's clear consumer demand to cut ties with Russia, presenting a moral quandary for companies wanting to support employees or provide vital products.

By Peter Adams • March 16, 2022

IPG pulls out of Russia after weighing 'moral dilemma' around staff

In a note, CEO Philippe Krakowsky said abandoning its 200 employees in the region was a route the group hoped to avoid. 

By Peter Adams • March 15, 2022

IPG's Momentum to track environmental impact as experiential bounces back

Implementing a new tool called Trace with industry action group Isla, the agency hopes to halve its carbon footprint by 2030.

By Peter Adams • March 14, 2022

How podcasts are helping brands meet DEI commitments

Multicultural podcast agency Pod Digital Media recently inked an eight-figure deal with McDonald's as the brand invests in diverse media.

By Chris Kelly • March 14, 2022

Omnicom is first agency to integrate with NBCUniversal's data clean room

The integration is NBCU's latest move around data, technology and measurement — areas expected to be a focus of upfront season.

By Chris Kelly • March 14, 2022

Can marketers crack the code on gaming as audiences diversify?

The IAB's upcoming PlayFronts — the first upfront event of its kind — speaks to new levels of maturity in media buying for a category whose player base is now 45% women.

By Peter Adams • March 7, 2022

Omnicom acquires digital transformation firm to boost consultancy

The deal for TA Digital comes as the agency holding company plans to ramp up M&A after growing organically by 10.2% in 2021.

By Chris Kelly • March 7, 2022

Inside Disney's ambitious bets on measurement, data and programmatic

Plans for an ad-supported Disney+ tier plus new details about its expanding data and ad-tech capabilities show the media giant stepping up its pitch to advertisers.

By Chris Kelly • March 7, 2022

Jack in the Box trolls McDonald's over broken ice cream machines

The first effort from the QSR's new public relations and integrated campaigns AOR uses competitive sparring tactics to tap into culture.

By Chris Kelly • March 3, 2022

YouTube shifts Brandcast to upfronts in latest sign of streaming, TV convergence

The video platform will still appear at the NewFronts with a different slate of programming focused on topics like creators.

By Peter Adams • Feb. 28, 2022

WPP grows at fastest pace in 20 years as experience, commerce surge

The agency holding company hit its 2023 revenue target two years early as the segment continues to benefit from a better-than-expected ad market rebound.

By Chris Kelly • Feb. 28, 2022

Agencies' metaverse practices ramp up in preparation for new digital age

The Metaverse Foundry from WPP's Hogarth is the latest example of how agencies of all sizes are orienting teams around the buzzy technology.

By Chris Kelly • Feb. 28, 2022