Will agencies reconsider real estate as return-to-office timeline remains unclear?

WPP's move to significantly trim its footprint last year could herald a larger culling in the segment as pricey spaces remain underutilized.

By Peter Adams • Updated Sept. 20, 2021

Omnicom creates bespoke agency for Mercedes-Benz

The fully integrated, data-driven Team X will handle global media, brand and performance marketing activities for the automaker.

By Chris Kelly • Sept. 20, 2021

S4 Capital raises guidance again as net revenue accelerates 66% in Q2

The company is poised to continue adding to its data, content and digital media capabilities, with a possible move into technology services.

By Chris Kelly • Sept. 13, 2021

Why Planet Fitness went from 16 agencies to one with new AOR Publicis

CMO Jeremy Tucker explained how a bespoke agency is expected to drive scale and efficiency and spur $40 million in incremental media investment.

By Chris Kelly • Sept. 13, 2021

Accenture acquires creative agency King James Group as it expands Africa footprint

The acquisition is the first major agency deal since the company tapped David Droga, a venerated creative, as CEO of its marketing services division.

By Peter Adams • Sept. 13, 2021

Media.Monks merges with Cashmere to boost cultural offering

Martin Sorrell's S4 Capital adds a buzzy creative agency as diversity and purpose become higher priorities in the U.S. and globally.

By Chris Kelly • Sept. 8, 2021

WPP names Chief AI Officer as part of deal for Satalia

The enterprise solutions provider is folding into Wunderman Thompson Commerce and will serve as a broader "hub of AI expertise" at WPP.

By Peter Adams • Aug. 30, 2021

Vizio secures $100M in upfront commitments amid shift to CTV

Six major agency holding companies made enterprise-level buys, while the smart TV maker's direct ad business tripled average revenue per advertiser.

By Chris Kelly • Aug. 30, 2021

Can agencies adapt as the future of work takes shape?

Attracting and retaining talent has been complicated by the shift to remote work and demands for better work-life balance, forcing agencies to be more flexible.

By Chris Kelly • Aug. 23, 2021

82% of advertisers apply brand values to media spending decisions, survey finds

More than half of advertisers will change how and where they spend media budgets to defund disinformation, and 59% will downgrade a media partner based on trust factors.

By Chris Kelly • Aug. 23, 2021

Accenture Interactive names Droga CEO at inflection point for marrying creativity, tech

In the two years since Accenture acquired Droga5, agency rivals focused more on consultative services that have served them well during the pandemic.

By Peter Adams • Aug. 23, 2021

Dentsu returns to growth as refitting customer experiences remains big opportunity

After seeing a revenue decline in Q1, the holding company's organic growth rate rebounded but still lags behind rival agency groups.

By Chris Kelly • Aug. 16, 2021

Why winning brands like Taco Bell still look to agencies for help on culture

Mature companies face steeper challenges to growth and could need third-party expertise to connect with new audiences and pop on emerging platforms.

By Peter Adams • Aug. 16, 2021

Walmart hands US media duties to Publicis as it ramps up omnichannel focus

Estimated to be the top retail advertiser this year, the big-box store is looking to link ad planning and buying closer to creative with a longtime agency partner.

By Peter Adams • Aug. 13, 2021

WPP posts 19% growth as clients continue 'fundamental shift' toward digital

Raising guidance for the year, CEO Mark Read said there are "good-sized opportunities" for acquisitions in areas like e-commerce, marketing technology and data.

By Peter Adams • Aug. 9, 2021

Local media agencies poised to be key part of accelerating digital ad market

Agencies born out of local media companies have grown nearly eightfold in the past decade and can tap into the $748 billion spent by businesses on digital marketing services.

By Chris Kelly • Aug. 9, 2021

Taco Bell taps Cashmere as first culture agency of record

The appointment comes as social and technological changes, plus younger consumers' growing impact on culture, have made fluency in "social nuance" a must-have for brands.

By Chris Kelly • Aug. 9, 2021

TikTok to help Publicis clients drive social commerce in new partnership

Rolling out ahead of the key holiday season, the agreement grants the group's clients access to special perks such as a new incubator program.

By Peter Adams • Aug. 3, 2021

How agency holding groups could sustain newfound momentum in H2

On its earnings call, Omnicom said it would pursue acquisitions in areas like digital transformation, commerce and media — a tack competitors could follow.

By Peter Adams • Aug. 2, 2021

IPG becomes first holding company to act as closed operator for Unified ID

UID2 continues to emerge as a key part of a cookieless future as IPG joins Publicis Groupe and Omnicom in supporting the technology.

By Chris Kelly • Aug. 2, 2021

Tinuiti beefs up CTV, OTT offering with Bliss Point Media buy

With its second acquisition this year, the performance marketing agency adds a company that uses machine learning to measure and optimize performance for brands including Instacart and Square.

By Chris Kelly • July 26, 2021

Publicis, Omnicom, IPG post strong gains as agencies reap rewards of pandemic rebound

Replenished war chests could lead to more dealmaking in the second half as the category continues its shift to digital- and data-oriented services.

By Peter Adams • July 26, 2021

Publicis goes all in on retail media with CitrusAd buy

The SaaS platform, whose clients include Macy's and Lowe's, will integrate with Epsilon as Publicis pushes harder on services centered around first-party data.

By Peter Adams • July 19, 2021

Mediaocean to buy ad server Flashtalking in boost to its omnichannel push

A year after its 4C Insights buy, the advertising software firm looks to provide marketers with a neutral alternative to Big Tech ad platforms.

By Chris Kelly • July 19, 2021

NFTs remain technology in search of clear brand strategy. Can agencies bridge the gap?

Bespoke new services from shops like Vaynermedia represent big rolls of the dice on a space that's already seeing some of its initial media fervor cool.

By Peter Adams • July 19, 2021