Podcasts about omnicom

PRWeek UK journalists pick some of the most significant stories of 2025, in the final episode of the Beyond the Noise podcast of this year.Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.This week, John Harrington (UK editor), Evie Barrett (deputy news editor) and Eliza Wiredu (reporter) each choose two stories or events from the year with implications that are likely to be felt in 2026 and beyond.Topics covered include:Omnicom's acquisition of IPG and what it means for the PR agenciesOpportunities of AI searchAI job cutsWPP's four-day office mandateUnilever's eyebrow-raising influencer investmentContinuing gender and ethnicity pay gaps Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This year was filled with major developments, from Netflix's planned WBD deal to Omnicom's acquisition of IPG to the introduction of AI-only video feeds. But there were also developments that didn't really happen, like the U.S. spinoff of TikTok and Google's third-party cookie deprecation. Digiday editors Sara Jerde and Seb Joseph joined hosts Kimeko McCoy and Tim Peterson to recap the year that was (and wasn't).

2025 – what a year that was for medical marketing.So many events and developments contributed to headlines in not only MM+M but mainstream outlets as well.Chief among them was the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as HHS Secretary, which signaled the direction that the second Trump administration would take on health policy.Not to be outdone, AI had a sizable impact, too. The momentum behind AI affected how millions consume information, do their jobs and even the ads they see on a daily basis.  Additionally, the closing of Omnicom's takeover of IPG sent another shockwave through adland. Though medical marketing shops may be more insulated than consumer agencies, they were not spared.This week, I'm joined by editor-in-chief Jameson Fleming, editor-at-large Steve Madden, pharma editor Lecia Bushak and reporter Heerea Rikhraj so the MM+M editorial team can say ‘goodbye' to 2025 and ‘hello' to 2026 in our final episode of the year.And once again, in lieu of the Trends segment, we bring you an interview from our recent AI Deciphered conference, this time with health futurist John Duffield. Check us out at: mmm-online.com Follow us: YouTube: @MMM-onlineTikTok: @MMMnewsInstagram: @MMMnewsonlineTwitter/X: @MMMnewsLinkedIn: MM+M To read more of the most timely, balanced and original reporting in medical marketing, subscribe here.Music: “Deep Reflection” by DP and Triple Scoop Music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The guest on the latest edition of The PR Week podcast is Kim Sample, president of the PR Council, a national trade organization that works on behalf of agencies. As a year of massive change for the agency landscape wraps up, Sample talks about what her industry partners are thinking while entering 2026. She also chats about the effects of Omnicom's acquisition of Interpublic Group, as well as other industry and economic trends. Plus the biggest marketing and communications news of the week, from a range of high-level people moves at organizations from OpenAI to Intel and Netflix to reaction to Vanity Fair's profile of the White House staff.  PRWeek.comTheme music provided by TRIPLE SCOOP MUSICJaymes - First One Follow us: @PRWeekUSReceive the latest industry news, insights, and special reports. Start Your Free 1-Month Trial Subscription To PRWeek Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Does January feel like a week ago or five years? The past 12 months have brought with them a lot – a mega-deal, cyber attacks, agencies renamed, new chief executives, trends fading in and out, redundancies and, of course, AI.In the final podcast episode of the year, Campaign takes a look back over 2025 at some of the most memorable moments of the year, revisiting the top stories, reviewing who was the most talked about and picking out those moments that would be better forgotten.Tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley hosts the episode and is joined by Campaign UK media editor Beau Jackson, reporter Eszter Gurbicz and editor Maisie McCabe.Further reading:Lucky Generals: ‘A creative company for people on a mission: that is still our north star'White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood will no longer appear in M&S Christmas adSantander appoints Publicis to global creative and media businessWPP recruits Microsoft exec Cindy Rose to replace Mark Read as CEOCampaign's top 10 most read stories:Group M tells staff about redundancies as restructure hits UKWPP mandates four days per week in officeOmnicom reveals huge agency shake-up, unveils new leadership, cuts 4000 jobsAgency pay revealed: a squeezed middle and a boost for bossesSchool Reports 2025: A to ZWPP employees push back on return-to-office policy with petitionRevealed: Latest hybrid working policies across 'big six' agency groupsWPP Media unveils new UK leadership structure under Brian Lesser overhaulGroup M axes global agency CEO roles in major centralisation pushWPP set to drop Group M brand in media shake-up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The guest on the latest, wide-ranging edition of The PR Week podcast is Dan Bartlett, executive vice president of corporate affairs at Walmart. He joins the podcast during an important week for Walmart, after the retail giant eschewed the New York Stock Exchange for the Nasdaq. Bartlett talks about that and discusses the communications skills and preparation ethic of Walmart CEO Doug McMillon. He also reflects on his time crafting the public communications strategy of former President George W. Bush. Plus, the biggest marketing and communications news of the week, such as the latest from Omnicom's acquisition of Interpublic Group, Publicis Groupe's 100th birthday celebration, the affordability debate and new communications leaders at Duolingo and Insulet.  PRWeek.comTheme music provided by TRIPLE SCOOP MUSICJaymes - First One Follow us: @PRWeekUSReceive the latest industry news, insights, and special reports. Start Your Free 1-Month Trial Subscription To PRWeek Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Omnicom completed its acquisition of IPG on Wednesday 26 November after clearing EU regulation. On the Monday that followed (1 December) the new holding company revealed a huge restructure including 4000 job cuts to happen by the end of the year, agencies merging, new leadership announced and some networks ceasing to exist.In this episode of The Campaign Podcast, Campaign's editorial team discuss the shape of the new holding company, which agencies are left and what chief executive John Wren is hoping will make it succeed against its competitors. Hosted by tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley, the episode features editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier, editor Maisie McCabe and news editor Will Green.Further reading:John Wren's ‘defining moment': can the last King of Madison Avenue make the new Omnicom work?John Wren on how Omnicom ‘will succeed': more collaboration, new bonuses, big job cutsOmnicom consolidates global advertising agencies into TBWA, McCann and BBDOOmnicom keeps six media networks but switches global CEOs to brand presidentsAdam & Eve/DDB to merge with TBWALondon and FCB to fold into AMV BBDOOmnicom Media promotes Natalie Bell and Katrina Bozicevich following IPG dealFCB's Tyler Turnbull set to be appointed CEO of McCann WorldgroupChaka Sobhani set for new role after Omnicom acquires IPGOmnicom-IPG: How merger will reshape the competition Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Millions of Americans know what it's like to live with inflammatory skin conditions – including Stella McDermott, the daughter of actress and author Tori Spelling.Earlier this fall, Tori spoke with People magazine about her own episodic eczema flare-ups in adulthood, how Stella has experienced bullying related to her chronic eczema and how the pair have become more confident while embarking on their respective skincare journeys.By publicly sharing their patient stories, Tori and Stella have formed the bedrock of Arcutis Biotherapeutics' recently-launched Free to Be Me skincare campaign. The effort elevates their experiences while also drawing attention to how Arcutis' Zoryve – a once-daily, nonsteroidal topical – offers patients with inflammatory skin conditions another effective treatment option.  This week, pharma editor Lecia Bushak speaks with Arcutis CEO Frank Watanabe about the drugmaker's partnership with Spelling, how the effort aims to raise awareness of inflammatory skin conditions and what the drugmaker's growth strategy looks like heading into 2026.And for our Trends segment, we're joined by editor-in-chief Jameson Fleming to discuss the medical marketing implications from Omnicom's takeover of IPG. Check us out at: mmm-online.com Follow us: YouTube: @MMM-onlineTikTok: @MMMnewsInstagram: @MMMnewsonlineTwitter/X: @MMMnewsLinkedIn: MM+M To read more of the most timely, balanced and original reporting in medical marketing, subscribe here.Music: “Deep Reflection” by DP and Triple Scoop Music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When an advertising behemoth announces major restructuring plans and impending layoffs, you tend to sit up and listen.  In our latest episode of Lead(er) Generation, Host Tessa Burg talks with Patty Parobek, Mod Op's Senior Vice President of AI Transformation, to discuss the latest Omnicom news and what this means for marketers and marketing technologists. No strangers to change, Tessa and Patty discuss the truths we must all face during difficult times, the opportunities that any change can bring and the skills that will win out in the end.   Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.  About Patty Parobek: As Senior Vice President of AI Transformation, Patty leads Mod Op's AI practice group, spearheading initiatives to maximize the value and scalability of AI-enabled solutions. Patty collaborates with the executive team to revolutionize creative, advertising and marketing projects for clients, while ensuring responsible AI practices. She also oversees AI training programs, identifies high-value AI use cases and measures implementation impact, providing essential feedback to Mod Op's AI Council for continuous improvement. Patty can be reached on LinkedIn or at Patty.Parobek@ModOp.com. About Tessa Burg: Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.

Redundancy is rife across the marketing and agency ecosystem right now. And whether you have an inkling your job could be on the line, as Liana Dubois did when management consultants entered the Nine building, or it's a complete shock – such as Josh Slighting experienced when he left a growing REA Group, or Katie Dally felt after surviving a first round of cuts at Endeavour Group only to be hit in the second set – it often triggers a professional and personal crisis of confidence and identity. Even experienced marketer Amy De Groot, who’s been made redundant twice, nearly 20 years apart, still felt the shock, upset and grief of this occupational hazard. It’s hard to get a precise handle on the exact volume of redundancies, but cuts can be found in every pocket of the industry. A clue is in the Advertising Council of Australia’s 2025 Salary Survey, which revealed a redundancy rate of 11%, compared to the usual range of 5–7%, in the 12 months to 31 March 2025. More overtly, Omnicom’s global CEO last week said 4000 jobs are likely to be shed by end of the year as the merged Omnicom-IPG structure is bolted into place. Up to 120 people are also being made redundant as Menulog shuts up shop in Australia. Endeavour Group is another that made marketing, experience, digital and CX redundancies this year. Dentsu flagged 8% global headcount reduction in Q2. Nine, Seven, News Corp have made hundreds of cuts. The Australian HR Institute quarterly outlook for September 25 shows redundancies are on the rise, with 27 per cent of employers planning cuts, up 3 percentage points since the June 2025 quarter. Those are the numbers and an attempt at hard facts. But the reality is there are a bunch of marketing and advertising industry colleagues having the cope with the fallout and impact of being made redundant. In Mi3’s latest podcast, we’re focusing on exploring the impact of the redundancy crisis through the lens of four senior marketers who have been there: Former Nine group CMO, Liana Dubois; former REA Group media lead, Josh Slighting, former Endeavour Group GM of brand, creative and operations, Katie Dally, and former Cars24 head of brand marketing, Amy de Groot. In this very personal conversation, we humanise the experience of being made redundant to help others out there that have, or are experiencing, the repercussions of redundancy directly and indirectly. We also explore the lateral career paths that have opened up for our guests, as we share learnings and advice on how we can all make more progressive career choices.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're talking about the Omnicom–IPG merger and what it means for agency jobs, how AI is replacing layers of work inside holding companies, and why middle-layer roles are most at risk in this new ad economy.This is WORK Net/NetWatch full episode on YouTube. Get full access to WORK at erikaayersbadan.substack.com/subscribe

The boys kick things off with a Black Friday breakdown and what it tells us about the K-shaped economy we now live in. Joe and Robert dig into spending trends, why some consumers are thriving while others are cutting back, and what this split means for marketers heading into 2026. They look at whether this year's patterns are temporary or structural, and what smart brands should prepare for next. From there, they turn to YouTube. Advertisers continue to shift budgets to the platform, and the data shows that YouTube is both the present and the future of television. Joe and Robert talk about how ultra-niche creators might be the biggest hidden opportunity for small and mid-sized brands looking to win in the influencer economy. The final story covers X and the platform's new "About Your Account" settings. Is it meaningful, helpful, or even newsworthy? The boys debate whether this is a real improvement or just another attempt to show activity without fixing the core issues. Winners and Losers Winner: Time Joe highlights Time as an example of a legacy brand doing things right, with a renewed focus on email subscribers and a strong commitment to in-person events. A modern media model built on direct relationships, not algorithms. Loser: Omnicom and the PR industry Robert takes the gloves off with a critique of Omnicom and the state of PR. He questions whether the industry is adapting fast enough to the shifts in trust, media fragmentation, and brand storytelling. Rants and Raves Robert's Rant Robert digs into a recent IPG study and why he believes it misses the mark. He breaks down the assumptions behind the research and what marketers should actually pay attention to. Joe's Rave Joe shares new research on gratitude and why it matters far more than most marketers realize. A positive scientific reminder that appreciation is a performance advantage, not just a personal virtue. Subscribe and Follow: Follow Joe Pulizzi and Robert Rose on LinkedIn for insights, hot takes, and weekly updates from the world of content and marketing. ------- This week's sponsor: Did you know that most businesses only use 20% of their data? That's like reading a book with most of the pages torn out. Point is, you miss a lot. Unless you use HubSpot. Their customer platform gives you access to the data you need to grow your business. The insights trapped in emails, call logs, and transcripts.  All that unstructured data that makes all the difference. Because when you know more, you grow more. Visit https://www.hubspot.com/ to hear how HubSpot can help you grow better. ------- Get all the show notes: https://www.thisoldmarketing.com/ Get Joe's new book, Burn the Playbook, at http://www.joepulizzi.com/books/burn-the-playbook/ Subscribe to Joe's Newsletter at https://www.joepulizzi.com/signup/. Get Robert Rose's new book, Valuable Friction, at https://robertrose.net/valuable-friction/  Subscribe to Robert's Newsletter at https://seventhbearlens.substack.com/ ------- This Old Marketing is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network: https://www.hubspot.com/podcastnetwork

Is HBO Max doing the right thing pulling the sitcom everywhere but their own service? Or are consumers getting tired of chasing their favourite shows behind paywalls? We look at the return of ‘windowing' and what's driving the trend.Also on the show: agency giant Omnicom acquired Interpublic recently. Does that solve all its problems? Brand consultant and writer Omar Oakes thinks maybe not. All that plus: why the next Director General may not come from the ranks - media veteran Maggie Brown tells us more; Acast offers podcasters a better deal with YouTube... and, in the Audio Network Media Quiz, we revive the Christmas Tapes of old. The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network. Alex (who is a real person) selects the music for us to score each episode and she and her team can do it for you too at https://audionetwork.comWe record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIACLUB at https://www.podshoponline.co.uk/services/podcast-studioBecome a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at https://themediaclub.comA Rethink Audio production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from Podcast Discovery.What The Media Club has been reading this week:'Windowing in back, big time'Netflix Commission Goalhanger's Rest Is Football for World CupOmnicom acquires Interpublic Acast announces tie-up for enhanced YouTube offeringContent London GossipYouTube growth down to older viewersWhy the Next DG Will Come From OutsideFire At Radio ScotlandBBC Plans Remote Commentary For Some World Cup MatchesNew In Our Time Host AnnouncedJungle show swearing faux pas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our latest guest is Maya Ackerman — AI‑creativity researcher, professor, and author of Creative Machines: AI, Art & Us (Wiley), as well as founder of WaveAI and LyricStudio (View recent colab with NVidia).Maya's perspective is not just insightful — it's a necessary reality check for anyone building AI today. She challenges the comforting narrative that AI is a neutral tool or a natural evolution of creativity. Instead, she exposes a truth many in tech avoid: AI is being deployed in ways that actively diminish human creativity, and businesses are incentivized to accelerate that trend.Her research shows how overly aligned, correctness-first models flatten imagination and suppress the divergent thinking that defines human originality. But she also shows what's possible when AI is designed differently — improvisational systems that spark new directions, expand a creator's mental palette, and reinforce human authorship rather than absorbing it.This episode matters because Maya names what the industry refuses to admit. The problem is not “AI getting too powerful,” it's AI being used to replace instead of elevate. Businesses are applying it as a cost-cutting mechanism, not a creative amplifier. And unless product leaders intervene, the damage to creativity — and to the people who rely on it for their livelihoods — will become irreversible.Listen to the Episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YoutubeWe're engineering a global creative regression and pretending we aren't.Generative AI could radically expand human imagination, but the systems we deploy today overwhelmingly suppress it. The literature is unequivocal:* AI boosts creative output only when tools are intentionally designed for exploration, not correctness.* When aligned toward predictability, AI drives conformity and sameness.* The rise of “AI slop” is not an insult — it's the logical outcome of misaligned incentives.* New evidence shows that AI-assisted outputs become more similar as more people use the same tools, reducing collective creativity even when individual outputs look “better.”* Homogenization is measurable at scale: marketing, design, and written content generated with AI converge toward the same tone and syntax, lowering engagement and cultural diversity.* Repeated reliance on AI weakens human originality over time — users begin outsourcing ideation, losing confidence and capacity for divergent thought.Resources:* The Impact of AI on Creativity: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/395275000_The_Impact_of_AI_on_Creativity_Enhancing_Human_Potential_or_Challenging_Creative_Expression* Generative AI and Creativity (Meta-Analysis): https://arxiv.org/pdf/2505.17241* AI Slop Overview: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AI_slop* Generative AI Enhances Individual Creativity but Reduces Collective Novelty:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11244532/* Generative AI Homogenizes Marketing Content:https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Delivery.cfm/5367123.pdf?abstractid=5367123* Human Creativity in the Age of LLMs (decline in divergent thinking):https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.03703 BOTTOM LINE: If your product optimizes for correctness, brand safety, and throughput before originality, you are actively contributing to the global collapse of creative quality. AI must be designed to spark—not sanitize—human imagination.Thanks for reading Design of AI: Strategies for Product Teams & Agencies! This post is public so feel free to share it.Award-winning creative talent is disappearing at scale, and the trend is accelerating.The global creative workforce is shrinking faster than at any time in modern history. Companies claim AI is “enhancing creativity,” yet most restructuring reveals the opposite: AI is being deployed primarily to cut labor costs. In general, layoff announcements top 1.1 million this year, the most since 2020 pandemic.What's happening now:* Omnicom announced 4,000 job cuts and shut multiple agencies — Reuters reporting: https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/omnicom-cut-4000-jobs-shut-several-agencies-after-ipg-takeover-ft-reports-2025-12-01/* WPP, Publicis, and IPG executed multi-round layoffs across design, writing, strategy, and production.* Digiday interviews confirm AI is used mainly to eliminate junior and mid-level creative roles: https://digiday.com/marketing/confessions-of-an-agency-founder-and-chief-creative-officer-on-ais-threat-to-junior-creatives/The most important read on the future & destruction of agencies comes from Zoe Scaman. She always brings a powerful and necessary mirror to the shitshow that is modern corporate world. Read it here:Freelancers and independent creatives are being hit even harder:* UK survey: 21% of creative freelancers already lost work because of AI; many report sharply lower pay — https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/2025/03/report-finds-creative-freelancers-hit-by-loss-of-work-late-pay-and-rise-of-ai/* Illustrators, motion designers, and concept artists report declining commissions as clients adopt Midjourney-style pipelines.* Voice actors face shrinking bookings due to synthetic voice models.* Stock photography, stock audio, and digital concepting have been heavily cannibalized by tools like Midjourney, Runway, and Suno.The research into AI shows even deeper risks:* The Rise of Generative AI in Creative Agencies — confirms agencies deploy AI for margin protection rather than creative innovation: https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2%3A1976153/FULLTEXT03.pdf* IFOW/Sussex study shows AI exposure correlates with lower job quality and salary stagnation for creatives: https://www.ifow.org/news-articles/marley-bartlett-research-poster---ai-job-quality-and-the-creative-industriesBOTTOM LINE: Creative roles are vanishing because AI is being optimized for efficiency rather than imagination. If we want creative industries to survive, AI must expand human originality — not replace the people who produce it.:** Creative roles are vanishing because AI is being deployed for efficiency rather than imagination. If we want a future with vibrant creative industries, AI must be designed to amplify human originality — not replace it.Please participate in our year-end surveyWe are studying how AI is restructuring careers, skills, and expectations across product, design, engineering, research, and strategy.Your responses influence:* the direction of Design of AI in 2025,* what questions we investigate through research,* what frameworks we build to help leaders adapt—and protect—their teams.Take the survey: https://tally.so/r/Y5D2Q5Understand your cognitive style so you know how to best leverage AI to boost youThe Creative AI Academy has developed as an assessment tool to help you understand your creative style. We all tackle problems differently and come up with novel solutions using different methods. Take the ThinkPrint assessment to get a blueprint of how you ideate, judge, refine, and decide. Knowing this will help you know in which ways AI can boost —rather than undermine— your originality. For me it was powerful to see my thinking style mirrored back at me. It gave structure to what enhances and undermines my creativity, meaning I better understand what role (if any) AI should play in expanding my creative capabilities. Thank you to Angella Tapé for demonstrating this tool and presenting the perfect next evolution of Dr. Ackerman's lessons about needing AI to be a creative partner, not cannibalizer. BOTTOM LINE: Without cognitive self-awareness, you're not “partnering” with AI—you're surrendering your creative identity to it. Take the ThinkPrint assessment and redesign your workflow around human-led, AI-supported thinking.We are trading away human intellect for productivity—and the safety evidence is damning.The research is now impossible to ignore: AI makes us faster, but it makes us worse thinkers.A major multi-university study (Harvard, MIT, Wharton) found that users with AI assistance worked more quickly but were “more likely to be confidently wrong.”Source: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4573321This pattern shows up across cognitive science:* Stanford and DeepMind researchers found that relying on AI “reduced participants' memory for the material and their ability to reconstruct reasoning steps.”Source: https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.01832* EPFL showed that routine LLM use “led to measurable declines in writing ability and originality over time.”Source: https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.00612* University of Toronto researchers warn that repeated LLM use “narrows human originality, shifting users from creators to evaluators of machine output.”Source: https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.03703In other words: we are outsourcing the exact cognitive muscles that make human thinking valuable — creativity, reasoning, comprehension — and replacing them with pattern-matching convenience.And while we weaken ourselves, the companies building the systems shaping our cognition are failing at even the most basic safety expectations.The AI Safety Index (Winter 2025) reported:“No major AI developer demonstrated adequate preparedness for catastrophic risks. Most scored poorly on transparency, accountability, and external evaluability.”Source: https://futureoflife.org/ai-safety-index-winter-2025/A companion academic review by Oxford, Cambridge, and Georgetown concluded:“Safety commitments across leading LLM developers are inconsistent, largely self-regulated, and often unverifiable.”Source: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2508.16982We are weakening human cognition while trusting companies that cannot prove they are safe. There is no version of this trajectory that ends well without deliberate intervention.Resources:* The Hidden Wisdom of Knowing in the AI Era: * A Critical Survey of LLM Development Initiatives: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2508.16982* Future of Life AI Safety Index (Winter 2025): https://futureoflife.org/ai-safety-index-winter-2025/* Supporting Safety Documentation (PDF): https://cdn.sanity.io/files/wc2kmxvk/revamp/79776912203edccc44f84d26abed846b9b23cb06.pdfBOTTOM LINE: Tools that reduce effort but not capability are not accelerators—they are cognitive liabilities. Product leaders must design for mental strength, not dependency.Schools are producing prompt operators, not original thinkers.Education systems are bolting AI onto decades-old learning models without rethinking what learning is. Instead of cultivating reasoning, imagination, and embodied intelligence, schools are teaching children to rely on AI systems they cannot critique.Resources:* UNESCO: AI & the Future of Education: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/ai-and-future-education-disruptions-dilemmas-and-directions* Beyond Fairness in Computer Vision: https://cdn.sanity.io/files/wc2kmxvk/revamp/79776912203edccc44f84d26abed846b9b23cb06.pdf* AI Skills for Students: https://trswarriors.com/ai-education-preparing-students-future/BOTTOM LINE: If we do not redesign education, we will create a generation of humans who can operate AI but cannot outthink, challenge, or transcend it.Featured AI Thinker: Luiza JarovskyLuiza Jarovsky is one of the most essential voices in AI governance today. At a time when global AI companies are actively pushing to loosen regulation—or bypass it entirely—Luiza's work provides a critical counterbalance rooted in human rights, safety, law, and long-term societal impact.Why her work matters now:* She exposes the structural risks of deregulated AI adoption across governments and corporations.* She documents how weak or performative governance puts vulnerable communities at disproportionate risk.* She offers practical frameworks for ethical, enforceable AI oversight.Follow her work:BOTTOM LINE: If you build or deploy AI and you are not following Luiza's work, you are missing the governance lens that will define which companies survive the coming regulatory wave.Recommended Reality ChecksTwo critical signals from the field this week:* Ethan Mollick on the accelerating automation of creative workflowshttps://x.com/emollick/status/1996418841426227516AI is quietly outperforming human creative processes in categories many believed were “safe.” The speed of improvement is outpacing organizational awareness.* Jeffrey Lee Funk on markets losing patience with empty AI narrativeshttps://x.com/jeffreyleefunk/status/1996612615850676703Investors are separating real AI value from hype. Companies promising transformation without measurable impact are being punished.BOTTOM LINE: The creative and product landscape is shifting beneath our feet. Those who don't adapt—intellectually, strategically, and operationally—will lose relevance.Final Reflection — Legacy Is a Product DecisionEverything in this newsletter points to a single, unavoidable truth:AI does not define our future. The product decisions we make do.We can build tools that:* expand human originality,* strengthen cognitive resilience,* elevate creative careers,* and produce a generation capable of thinking beyond the machine.Or we can build tools that:* replace the creative class,* hollow out human judgment,* weaken educational outcomes,* and leave society dependent on systems controlled by a handful of companies.As product leaders—designers, strategists, researchers, technologists—we decide which future gets built.Legacy isn't abstract. It's the cumulative effect of every interface we design, every shortcut we greenlight, every metric we reward, and every model we deploy.If you want to build AI that strengthens humanity instead of diminishing it, reach out. Let's design for human outcomes, not machine efficiency.arpy@ph1.ca This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit designofai.substack.com

It's a seismic change for several industries. Omnicom Group closed its $9 billion acquisition of Interpublic Group last Wednesday. In the days since, the deal has resulted in many job reductions as Omnicom tries to reach promised cost savings. For the PR sector, the deal means former Interpublic agencies Golin and The Weber Shandwick Collective are joining Omnicom PR, which includes FleishmanHillard, Ketchum, Porter Novelli and other firms under the leadership of CEO Chris Foster. Joining this week's podcast are Campaign's Luz Corona and MM+M's Jameson Fleming, who explain what the holding company mega-deal means for the creative and medical marketing sectors, respectively. Plus, some of the biggest marketing and communications news of the week, such as WPP delaying employee pay reviews until next spring and PRWeek's Best Places to Work 2025. PRWeek.comTheme music provided by TRIPLE SCOOP MUSICJaymes - First One Follow us: @PRWeekUSReceive the latest industry news, insights, and special reports. Start Your Free 1-Month Trial Subscription To PRWeek Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the Sleeping Barber Podcast, Marc and Vassilis discuss topics that caught their attention over the last couple of weeks, including the recent merger between Omnicom and IPG, the impact of AI on retail, particularly through Amazon's new shopping assistant Rufus, and Adidas' innovative approach to market research by utilizing search data instead of traditional surveys. They also delve into leadership insights as a part of their marketing moment, emphasizing the importance of happiness and well-being in the workplace, and conclude with a case study on the emotional marketing strategy of John Lewis' Christmas ads.Enjoy the show!Episode TakeawaysThe Omnicom and IPG merger creates the largest advertising holding company.AI is significantly influencing retail, as seen with Amazon's Rufus.Adidas has shifted from traditional surveys to using search data for brand tracking.Happiness can be cultivated through daily habits and leadership practices.Unhappy leaders can negatively impact team morale and productivity.Auditing meetings can free up time and improve team well-being.The John Lewis Christmas ad exemplifies emotional marketing and connection.Music plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of advertisements.Retailers need to adapt to changing consumer behaviours and preferences.The holiday shopping experience has evolved into a multi-day event rather than a single day frenzy.Chapters00:00 - Introduction and Personal Updates03:01 - Industry News: Omnicom and IPG Merger05:50 - AI in Retail: Amazon's Rufus and Holiday Shopping Trends12:11 - Adidas' Shift to Search Data19:11 - The Marketing Moment - The Four Habits of Happier Leaders32:12 - John Lewis Christmas Ad: A Case Study in Emotional MarketingEpisode Links:Omnicom finalizes IPG acquisition with experts calling it the ‘natural outcome' of a changing agency model - https://www.marketingweek.com/omnicom-finalises-ipg-aquisition/Amazon's $124B Christmas Bet - https://stocks.apple.com/ASmqJwrDDQD2AuFnWpJbglAWinners and losers of Black Friday 2025 - https://www.retaildive.com/news/winners-losers-black-friday-2025/806610/Adidas Ditches Surveys for Search Data - http://warc.com/content/feed/adidas-sees-big-returns-from-using-share-of-search-for-brand-tracking/en-GB/11070The Four Habits of Happier Leaders - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7S6MMcYM6k Ad of the week - John Lewis "The Man On The Moon" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsyD3W2pWU8

In today's MadTech Daily, we look at Omnicom announcing a major overhaul with new leadership and job cuts, Havas buying Unnest to boost data services, and retailers seeing an 830% jump in traffic from generative AI.

At the start of the year, 2025 was predicted by some adland commentators to be the year for independent agencies. Omnicom was beginning to acquire IPG to make the largest holding company, redundancies occurred across some of the networks and WPP had a more-than-difficult year on top of a new chief executive.2025 has seen the launch of many independent agencies including Ace of Hearts, Studio.One and Baby Teeth, while Ark Agency and Uncharted came into their second year. Plus, IPG sold R/GA and Huge separately to private equity, also becoming independent. So now the year is almost up, Campaign's editorial team discuss whether independent media and creative agencies have benefited from distraction caused by the holding companies. Tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley hosts the episode and is joined by creativity and culture editor Gurjit Degun, media editor Beau Jackson and editor Maisie McCabe.Further reading:Omnicom reveals huge agency shake-up, unveils new leadership, cuts 4000 jobsAce of Hearts: dealing adland a new handTroy Ruhanen: 'I wouldn't have taken OAG job if it was all about efficiency and smashing things'Group M tells staff about redundancies as restructure hits UKOmnicom cut 3000 roles during 2024 ahead of IPG takeover moveMega merger adds to existing questions for InterpublicGlobal agency groups 2024 report card: Performances and staff numbers decline as restructures continue Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Dividend Talk, we sit down together to look ahead to 2026 and ask a big question: is now the perfect moment to review and refine our dividend growth investing strategy?Every Friday, we chat about dividend stocks, and in this episode, we're diving deep into planning, discipline, and staying focused when the market (and the holiday season!) tests our impulses.We kick things off with some Black Friday fun, then move into what really matters:Why now is the right time to review our 2026 dividend planHow we avoid emotional decisions during the busiest time of the yearThe latest dividend news: HPQ, LVMH, Alimentation Couche-Tard, Omnicom, real estate REITs and moreWhat falling oil prices and weak consumer trends might mean for dividend investorsInsights from Goldman Sachs and Allianz on expected European equity performanceOur biggest lessons from past years — from dividend safety to tax optimisationHow to prepare your portfolio for next year's opportunities and risksAnd of course, your listener questions on income factory theory, REITs, AI disruption, sin stocks, and how we experience the real “snowball effect” of compoundingIf you want to continue the conversation, you can join our growing community of European dividend investors on Facebook or Discord — we're always there sharing ideas, lessons, and motivation.See you on the inside!Useful links: Continue the conversation with our community at ⁠⁠Facebook⁠ or ⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠ 20 Deep Dives a Year &Library of 150 EU & US Dividend stocks at ⁠⁠https://www.dividendtalk.eu

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover the EU greenlighting Omnicom's IPG acquisition without conditions, YouTube usage reaching 84% of adults, and Alibaba's Qwen topping 10 million downloads.

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training Is innovation truly at the center of your agency operations? Not just what you offer clients, but in how you operate? With AI raising expectations faster than most agencies can adapt, investing in innovation isn't optional anymore. It's how you build client trust, stay ahead of disruption, and keep your edge. Today's featured guest unpacks his journey from leading the award-winning agency T3 to launching Superstep Capital, a private equity firm investing exclusively in agency and technology-service businesses. His insights cut through the noise on innovation, leadership, and how to stay ahead of the next big shift. Ben Gaddis still calls himself agency guy. After more than a decade building T3 into one of the nation's leading digital agencies, serving clients like UPS, 7-Eleven, and JP Morgan Chase he sold the company and launched Superstep Central, a private equity firm investing in agencies and tech service businesses. When he sold T3 to a private-equity group, he didn't ride off into the sunset. Instead, he crossed over to what he calls "the dark side," founding Superstep Capital. Now, he defines his mission as redefining what private equity looks like in the agency world by partnering with founders to scale the right way. In this episode, we'll discuss: Going all-in on the next wave before clients catch up. Why innovation should be treated as an expectation. Lessons on creating a leadership structure. Why differentiation still wins. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources This episode is brought to you by Wix Studio: If you're leveling up your team and your client experience, your site builder should keep up too. That's why successful agencies use Wix Studio — built to adapt the way your agency does: AI-powered site mapping, responsive design, flexible workflows, and scalable CMS tools so you spend less on plugins and more on growth. Ready to design faster and smarter? Go to wix.com/studio to get started. Go All-In on the Next Wave Before Clients Catch Up Ben's family has been running T3 since he was born, so it made sense to him that he'd eventually end up in the agency world. Hence, he started his career working at Omnicom, learning from their biggest competitors, and was around when mobile apps became a thing after the launch of the iPhone. At Omnicom Ben saw how traditional holding companies were too slow to invest in mobile. He didn't hesitate to seize the opportunity that mobile presented. Frustrated, he took over T3 and bet big on the emerging mobile market. That bet paid off with marquee wins and explosive growth, scaling the agency to $50 million in revenue and around 300 employees. His advice for agency owners today echoes that same spirit: burn the boats. You can't half-commit to a new capability and expect to lead it. You can't expect clients to lead you there. If you want to own a new channel, whether it's AI, automation, voice, whatever's next, you have to invest ahead of demand and prove value before anyone asks. If you wait for client demand before you invest, it's already too late. Innovation Isn't a Slogan, It's an Expectation At T3, Ben created a culture where innovation wasn't just encouraged; it was an expectation. So they turned innovation into a measurable habit by creating an "Innovation Match" program where they matched a portion of a client's spend dollar-for-dollar on experimental projects. Clients got to share in the risk and the reward. Those projects became T3's biggest success stories and built a reputation for fearless creativity. T3 chose projects and built roadmaps alongside the clients. turning them into true partners in innovation. The coolest work the agency ever did ended up coming from that program. It even led to another venture project called T3 Ventures, where they invested in c-stage startups. It was all about surrounding his team with people who were doing the newest and coolest stuff and letting their clients see this. It worked much better to show innovation than to just talk about it. Innovation has to live in your budget, not your buzzwords. When your team sees that experimentation is backed by leadership, and even matched financially, they'll start bringing the bold ideas that set you apart. This" Innovation Match" model is a playbook for modern agencies trying to make innovation a repeatable, funded process. Leadership Has to Grow as Fast as the Agency Early on, Ben was a young CEO trying to manage instead of lead. He assumed people could read his mind and execute on his vision. That mistake caused turnover and frustration until he hit pause, clarified T3's mission, and re-aligned around a few focused areas: digital products, loyalty, and CRM. From there, he learned to build leadership in layers. Initially, he brought on a COO, which seemed like the next logical move; however, it wasn't the right cultural fit and complicated everything with the team. It wasn't about what his COO changed, it was how they did it… the entire team rejected this dynamic. Eventually, Ben was able to bring in a COO who simplified instead of complicating. It not only freed Ben to think creatively again and gave the agency room to scale, it gave him back his creative headspace. Agency Structure for Scale: Build Practice Leaders, Not Project Managers The other positive change at his agency was creating the "practice groups". Instead of spreading talent thin across random projects, they paired a portfolio lead with a subject-matter expert. Each duo owned a P&L and growth target. The result was deep expertise, repeatable wins, and new verticals that practically built themselves. Their restaurant and convenience-store niche exploded from 2 clients to 30 in record time. This model solves the scaling paradox of how to grow without sacrificing quality. When your experts own both excellence and profit, growth stops feeling chaotic. The last area they focused on was delivery, fighting to maintain quality as they did the newest thing. In the end, it came down to setting expectations and aligning with clients around what they were bringing to the table. As a result, quality went up. AI, Sales, and What's Next for Agency Growth On the investment side, Ben sees a lot of agencies struggling with hesitation and "no-decision" deals. AI has amplified expectations while compressing margins. Many clients now assume everything can be automated, expecting greater output for less cost. Thankfully, this trend has decreased, as clients were burned by this overreliance on AI. On the other hand, it's clear to Ben that agencies should and must be faster and more efficient, and agencies with a clear understanding of what they do and who they serve are not blindsighted by this new reality. His advice: AI isn't differentiation, it's amplification. The edge comes from how you apply it, not the tools themselves. Know your vertical, know your data, and connect AI to real business outcomes. The agencies that win are the ones that define how AI fits their process - not the other way around. Why Differentiation Still Wins in the AI Era The agencies and individuals winning right now aren't the ones with the fanciest tools or the most automation; they're the ones combining experience, curiosity, and creativity to use AI in smarter ways. Ben shares the story of an account manager who built her own workflows using AI to research verticals, anticipate objections, and walk into client meetings armed with strategic ideas that wowed executives. She wasn't a technologist, she was a strategist who understood her clients deeply and used AI as a force multiplier. That's the real edge in this new era. Tools are accessible to everyone, but insight and application are not. As Ben points out, it's your data, your intuition, and your industry expertise that make AI valuable. AI doesn't replace strategy, it rewards it. The agencies that know their data, their clients, and their niche will always have the edge. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

WPP, Publicis Groupe, Omnicom, Interpublic, Havas and Dentsu have hitherto been known to adland as the "big six". However, the past year has brought the announcement of a proposed merger between Omnicom and IPG, while Havas and Dentsu have become comparatively smaller.So, the "big six" become the "big three", but is there another challenger? Accenture Song's latest results reported revenues of $20bn (£15bn) in the 12 months to August, putting it on par with Omnicom's $16bn, Publicis' €16bn ($19bn) and WPP's £15bn ($20bn). The business has picked up the $42m media account for Optus in Australia and remains in the running for Jaguar Land Rover's global integrated marketing account.With significant changes among the biggest holding companies continuing to shift the advertising landscape, some have questioned whether it is the end of the "big six", heralding the start of a new "big four". In this week's episode of The Campaign Podcast, Campaign's editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier, UK editor Maisie McCabe and media editor Beau Jackson, examine the potential outcomes. The episode is hosted by tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley.Further reading:Accenture is at a crossroads for its global agency ambitionsWhat's next for Accenture Song? CEO Ndidi Oteh at Campaign Live‘Song is changing Accenture': CEO Ndidi Oteh on media, M&A and ‘Big Four' agency rivalryOmnicom now ‘confident' IPG deal will close in November as EU approval nearsYannick Bolloré on Havas' Q3 ‘acceleration', Dentsu's assets and being ‘open' to M&AHavas ‘could be interested' to buy or partner with some of Dentsu's international assetsArthur Sadoun on why Publicis is ‘winning' and how ‘struggling' rivals have dragged down agency valuations Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show Notes:Black and Ethnic Minority representation in leadership positions in the UK PR Industry leaves much to be desired and is well below FTSE 100 @11% and FTSE 250 @9% (Parker Review 2025). However, I am an optimist and do believe that direction of travel has been set by advocates and agencies… Collective progress may be slow, but equity & inclusion is mainstream and there are more role models than ever before…Alicia Solanki, Senior VP EMEA @Team Lewis is one such role model challenging cultural expectations and stereotypes to make space for herself in the UK industry. In this fast-paced conversation on The Elephant in the Room podcast we spoke about the dynamics of leadership and representation in the industry from the perspective of a woman of colour.Alicia also spoke about the importance of mentorship in fostering resilience and empowerment amongst underrepresented communities.- Authenticity and cultural sensitivity- Work life balance decoded- Codeswitching – life saving hack or demotivating burden?- Evolving definitions of leadership and empathy in leadership- DEI alive or dead? Are clients continuing to prioritise DEI initiatives or are they backtracking on their previous commitments?Each and every time I hear somebody speak about their lived experiences, I am blown away by how unique our experiences are to each one of us. How important it is for us to understand that Black and Ethnic Minorities or the global majority are not homogenous. That understanding context and intersectionality are key to informed equitable interventions for inclusive workplaces and thriving communities. Her advice to young Black and Ethnic minority professionals entering the industry - ‘make your own magic'. Episode TranscriptSudha: Good morning, Alicia. Wonderful to have you on the Elephant in the Room podcast today.I'm delighted because I've been following you on LinkedIn for some time and it's a great pleasure to have you here today.Alicia: Thank you, Sudha. It's a pleasure to be here today.And yes, my friends and family always laugh about how obsessed I am with LinkedIn, so I'm glad you found me on there too.Sudha: Brilliant. So let's start with a quick introduction. Alicia: So I'm Alicia Solanki. I'm SVP EMEA at Team Lewis. Team Lewis is a global marketing agency here in London, but we're also global. We're around the world in 25 offices. I've done my whole career agency side. Before that I was in the Omnicom family. So, yeah, I guess I love the buzz of agency.I love the discipline of PR and how it's really expanded now. I have two children, Ella, who's 11, just started high school. So lots of change came going on in our house at the moment.And then I have a little boy called Ethan, who's eight. So, yeah, married, busy life, juggling loads of plates. But I kind of like it that way. So that's a bit about me.Sudha: Yeah. Oh, my God, it sounds really busy and with life changing stuff. I mean, moving

Centralized platforms cheat creators and fans with unfair cuts and hidden talent. YouBallin, on Solana, is a mobile-first platform where Talent participates in competitive events earning from NFTs and brand deals. Fans vote with $YBL tokens and Brands gain authentic engagement with target audiences. Native web2 onboarding and web3 account abstraction ensures mass appeal, targeting the creator economy's growth.Chris Arakelian is the CEO of YouBallin. She recently joined the Bitcoin.com News Podcast to talk about the platform.In this episode, Chris Arakelian introduced YouBallin as a decentralized, event-driven creator economy built on Solana, aiming to revolutionize the current centralized creator economy. She highlighted the problems with the existing model, including unfair monetization where creators receive very little revenue, algorithmic gatekeeping that prioritizes engagement over genuine talent, and an incentive structure that leaves fans as passive consumers. YouBallin's solution involves a philosophical shift, transforming fans into active owners and stakeholders through a transparent token economy.Arakelian detailed YouBallin's two-phase competitive event model for talent discovery and ownership. In phase one, emerging talents compete to be noticed by established creators ("legends") who vote for free, while fans use YBL tokens to advance wildcard talents. Phase two involves finalists receiving fractionalized NFTs, allowing fans to invest directly in a creator's journey and benefit from her popularity. She emphasized that YouBallin is a multi-sided marketplace targeting emerging talents, engaged fans, mentoring legends, and brands looking for authentic communities, creating a circular rather than extractive economy.She further explained that YouBallin differentiates itself in the Web3 landscape through its core utility, interactive event model, and domain-agnostic approach, supporting various categories beyond just music. Arakelian also introduced "TalentFi," a term for talent finance, which places ownership, instead of algorithms, at the center of discovery, aligning with the crypto ethos of empowering individuals through open and permissionless systems. The YBL token powers all transactions within the platform, fueling scarcity and strengthening participation in this closed-loop economy.About Our GuestChris brings 30 years of agency leadership and marketing communications excellence to YouBallin. Educated as a designer and trained as a client advocate, she's a Growth Engine dedicated to building brands and driving business outcomes. Prior to her appointment as CEO of YouBallin, Chris led Growth for Omnicom's most creative Brand Design Consultancy, Wolff Olins, where she ushered in net new client relationships for both established and emerging brands across a vast Web2 and Web3 landscape including ConcenSys/Metamask, Uber, Instacart, Arbitrum, Robinhood, Bloomberg, Kenvue, BMG, and more.Prior to Omnicom. Chris held senior positions at Consumer centric consultancies where she launched new as well as legacy brands into the world including Wild Turkey, Acuvue, Gillette Venus, and U By Kotex. Building futureproof brands that connect to audiences in an ever changing market is what fuels her passion and drives brand success across categories and geographies.To learn more about the project visit YouBallin.com, and follow the team on X.

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover OpenAI launching the ChatGPT Atlas browser, Omnicom's revenue rising on ad strength, and Netflix expanding into interactive experiences as its shares fall on a Brazil tax hit.

Featuring:-Richard Edelman, CEO, Edelman-Chris Foster, CEO, Omnicom Public Relations Group“PR has never been more important than it is today.” Those words were expressed by Omnicom Public Relations Group CEO Chris Foster during a riveting session at PRDecoded on October 16 in Chicago. Fellow guest Richard Edelman, CEO of his eponymous agency, concurred, noting that now is the opportunity for PR to “steal the moment.”In a conversation moderated by PRWeek VP, editorial director Steve Barrett, the two industry titans continually validated those sentiments as they touched on myriad topics. Those include AI, misinformation, COVID-19's impact still being felt today, the rise of earned media, the current era of radical transparency, trust, the evolving nature of agency-client conversations, the importance of podcasts and much more.And, yes, the two tennis enthusiasts both shared some lessons they continue to learn on the court that helps them lead their firms and the industry. A rare opportunity to hear from two true PR giants. AI Deciphered is back—live in New York City this November 13th.Join leaders from brands, agencies, and platforms for a future-focused conversation on how AI is transforming media, marketing, and the retail experience. Ready to future-proof your strategy? Secure your spot now at aidecipheredsummit.com. Use code POD at check out for $100 your ticket! PRWeek.comTheme music provided by TRIPLE SCOOP MUSICJaymes - First One Follow us: @PRWeekUSReceive the latest industry news, insights, and special reports. Start Your Free 1-Month Trial Subscription To PRWeek Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

At the heart of every media plan is the need to understand what a consumer wants; wants from your brand, your product, how they want to be spoken to and through what touchpoints.Michael Brown is the UK and EMEA head of research and insight, and a senior managing partner, at IPG Mediabrands.He joined host Jack Benjamin to discuss how his craft of both qualitative and quantitive consumer research is adapting to meet changing needs of CMOs, and how he is integrating AI into his work practice.Brown believes wholeheartedly that the human element is at the core of consumer insights, and he explains why it's important for media companies and brands to continue taking that into account.As part of the conversation, the pair also spoke about key insights trends, including the seeping of politics into social listening online, and what it means for brands who have demonstrated care (or lack thereof) to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.In addition, Brown addressed how he and his team are handling any uncertainty over Omnicom's forthcoming acquisition of IPG.Highlights:3:14: How demand for research and consumer insight is changing, and the crisis of "information overload" in the age of AI.11:34: Why true insight and storytelling require a "human premium".16:41: How do CMOs take on research?20:44: What's trending right now? Social listening, Reddit, and political controversy.28:24: Are brands shying away from responsible media investment and diversity, equity and inclusion?33:52: Reactions to Omnicom's acquisition of IPG.37:47: Is the social culture of adland changing?Related articles:The ad gap: Why marketers are falling behind consumers, and how to catch up Consumers seeking comfort online more likely to view advertising positivelyUS FTC approves Omnicom-IPG merger on condition it does not make ad decisions based on ‘political or ideological viewpoints'---Thanks to our production partners Trisonic for editing this episode.--> Discover how Trisonic can elevate your brand and expand your business by connecting with your ideal audienceVisit The Media Leader for the most authoritative news analysis and comment on what's happening in commercial media. LinkedIn: The Media LeaderYouTube: The Media Leader

In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal sits down with Ana de la Cruz, SEO Lead at Chartis, to explore her journey from Univision Radio to leading SEO strategy at a global media agency. Ana shares how curiosity, reinvention, and kindness shaped her path — and introduces us to the emerging concept of “Vibe Coding,” where AI and human creativity meet.Here's what you'll learn:How Ana transitioned from traditional media to SEO strategyWhy kindness and collaboration are underrated superpowers in the agency worldWhat “vibe coding” really means — and how SEOs can use it to automate and innovateWhy AI expands opportunity instead of replacing humans⏱️ Timestamps:0:00 – Welcome & Guest Intro 0:31 – Ana's journey from media to marketing 2:00 – Landing at Publicis and Omnicom 4:00 – What Chartis does (and why she loves it) 5:20 – How AI opens new opportunities for SEOs 8:35 – What is “vibe coding”? 12:19 – Ana's first experiments with ChatGPT and code 18:45 – Curiosity, courage, and building new skills

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover a record-breaking deal closed by Electronic Arts, the FTC giving final approval to the Omnicom–IPG deal on the condition of certain ad rules as well as Anthropic tripling its global staff as AI demand surges.

This week's guest is Elie Khouri, a Lebanese-French businessman, entrepreneur, art patron and media leader. Best known as the founder and chairman of Vivium, a Dubai-based single-family office. A driving force in the communications industry, he has served as chairman of Omnicom Media Group for the Middle East and North Africa since 2019, following a successful 13-year tenure as CEO. Beyond his corporate achievements, Khouri is widely recognized for his support of contemporary art and entrepreneurship and has gained further visibility as an investor on Shark Tank, where he backs innovative ideas and emerging businesses. Today, his focus is on growing his family office, generating long-term wealth and driving a transition toward alternative investing. In this episode, we explore Elie's journey as an entrepreneur and investor, with his experience on Shark Tank Dubai and his approach to evaluating businesses. The discussion covers the skill of sales, the role of social media, and lessons from his time at Omnicom, as well as the challenges of leading across cultures, finding talent and the values shaped by his upbringing. Elie also shares perspectives on inspiration, mental health and AI as a growth enabler, before reflecting on building a family office, investing in start-ups and the qualities that define true entrepreneurship. Please welcome to the show, Elie Khouri.   1:26 – Elie on Shark Tank Dubai and evaluating the quality of businesses 9:15 – The role of social media in sales 12:00 – Elie on Omnicom 16:29 – The challenge of running a successful business across different cultures 23:24 – Elie's inspiration 28:40 – The rise of mental health issues 32:45 – The role of AI as an enabler 38:51 Investing in start-ups (some hugely successful, others failures) 53:45 – What success means to Elie 1:01:01 – Failure as a driver of growth   Show Sponsors:   AYS Developers: A design-focused company dedicated to crafting exceptional homes, vibrant communities, and inspiring lifestyle experiences. https://bit.ly/AYS-Developers     Socials:   Follow Spencer Lodge on Social Media https://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en  https://www.tiktok.com/@spencer.lodge  https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/  https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV  https://www.facebook.com/spencerlodgeofficial/    Follow Elie Khouri on Social Media https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliekhouri/

Ad Age agency reporter Ewan Larkin demystifies the changing power dynamics at agency holding companies such as WPP, Publicis and Omnicom. Global account leads are becoming more important to agency growth, changing the position of regional and agency brand CEOs. Plus, Netflix announced it would make ad inventory available through Amazon's DSP. The partnership is a milestone in both companies' ad journeys—read more on the implications. And Goodby Silverstein & Partners named Sarah Thompson as its first-ever CEO. Go inside the reasons why. Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode: ~The meaning of agency holding companies' changing power dynamics ~Dentsu's strategy to stand out amid industry M&A ~Behind the scenes of the updated “How Many Licks” campaign ~Listen to Little Caesar's CMO talk sports marketing strategy

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by Claudia Johnson, Technical Advisor to the CEO of Flywheel Commerce Network, the commerce acceleration division of Omnicom.Follow Claudia on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudia-johnson-b133436/Follow Flywheel on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudia-johnson-b133436/Follow Flywheel Next online at: https://www.flywheeldigital.com/Claudia answers the following questions : How has your role at Flywheel evolved, especially since Flywheel's acquisition by Omnicom? What new opportunities or challenges has this created?Your work emphasizes capability building in digital commerce. How are ecommerce strategies evolving today, and how does Flywheel help brands stay ahead in a rapidly changing landscape?In a recent podcast episode, you described retail media as advertising that occurs “close to or at the point of sale.” Could you walk us through how that concept fits into broader brand strategy and which brands are using it most effectively right now?Flywheel's research shows that the most impactful drivers of sales on Amazon are media spend and organic shelf ranking, ahead of price and inventory. How should brands prioritize investments given these insights?What are the biggest roadblocks brands face when trying to scale digital commerce capabilities? How do you approach "connecting the dots" across teams and markets?With Flywheel now within Omnicom's ecosystem, what new tools or data synergies have emerged to help your clients achieve growth in commerce?You've recently discussed how unified ecosystems and AI-driven insights are transforming retail. How are you leveraging AI and ecosystem integration to deliver more relevant consumer experiences?At the 2025 Syndigo Connect event, you spoke about optimizing product and commerce experiences for long-term success. What storytelling techniques or content strategies are driving retention and loyalty beyond the initial purchase?Are there emerging trends in retail media, ecommerce infrastructure, or omnichannel tech that you're watching closely—and that CPG brands should be paying attention to?On a more personal note: What first drew you into digital commerce, and what advice would you give someone aspiring to lead capability-building in this fast-evolving space?CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.comFMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.comCPG Scoop Website: http://CPGscoop.comRhea Raj's Website: http://rhearaj.comLara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual's use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

Media platforms, including Meta, TikTok, X, Spotify, Pinterest and others, have been advancing their own AI capabilities to improve the advertising process of creating and serving ads to an audience. So where does this leave media and creative agencies?Meta, has gone so far as to call itself a “one stop shop” for advertisers, by reportedly aiming to fully automate advertising, including the creation and targeting of ads, by the end of the year. After this was reported, Meta's stock price went up, while Publicis, Omnicom, IPG and WPP's all took a dip. Chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said: “Over the long term, advertisers will basically just be able to tell us a business objective and a budget, and we're going to go do the rest for them.”In this episode, the Campaign editorial team discusses how much of a threat media platform's advancement of AI poses and how agencies are adapting to not lose their role in the advertising process.Hosted by tech editor Lucy Shelley, the episode features deputy media editor Shauna Lewis and editor Maisie McCabe.Further reading:You can't just tell an AI to create ads like a CCOWhy is principal-based media buying so controversial?Buckle up for the ride as agency world will look significantly different in two yearsUK TV commercial chiefs on 'radical collaboration' and ‘bullishness' in the face of LHFSir Martin Sorrell: Tech platforms are encroaching on clients of large agenciesWill media buyers be the first victims of AI?Media buying among 'first areas to go' with rise of AI, says MediaMonks co-founderGoogle's EMEA president urges adland: ‘Don't wait for magic AI moment – it's here'Microsoft AI CEO: Bigger organisations are ‘starting to feel the pressure' from AI Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's MadTech Daily, we discuss Dentsu weighing sale of global unit, YouTube and Fox striking a short-term deal, and Omnicom surpassing WPP in UK ad spend.

Omnicom and IPG have kept their cards close to their chests while nearing completion of the biggest acquisition in advertising history. Set to close in the second half of this year, the merger-acquisition has now secured 15 out of the 18 regulatory approvals required, including recently with UK watchdog the CMA, in early August. Under the terms of the all-share deal, Omnicom said at the start of August it was set to pay only $9bn for IPG, down from $13.3bn when the takeover was first agreed on 9 December, as the stock prices of both companies have fallen. But the actual price will only be decided once the deal is finalised.In this episode, the Campaign team discuss what's next for Omnicom's takeover of IPG, how it fares against its holding company peers and the priorities for the current chief executives John Wren and Philippe Krakowsky, plus what it means for the agencies and people within the soon-to-be biggest holding company in advertising. This discussion follows on from a previous episode which asked: Will the Omnicom-IPG merger really happen?Hosted by tech editor Lucy Shelley, this episode features Campaign's editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier, editor Maisie McCabe and media editor Beau Jackson.Further reading:Omnicom and IPG's leaders could learn from WPP's 2025IPG cuts 2400 jobs in first half of 2025 ahead of Omnicom takeoverIPG profits drop as UK growth falls 9.7%Omnicom's Duncan Painter to lead data reorganisation ahead of IPG takeoverJames Temperley leaves IPG as part of restructureAndrea Suarez becomes latest media agency chief to leave IPG MediabrandsJohn Wren on his vision for a bigger, better OmnicomIPG downgrades UK ad market growth to 6.4% in 2025Troy Ruhanen: 'I wouldn't have taken OAG job if it was all about efficiency and smashing things'Omnicom and IPG chiefs visit UK to sell merger to staff and pitch consultants Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode, Disney phases out Hulu and launches ESPN streaming service, and that's just one part of streaming's current reshuffling. Meanwhile, the Omnicom-IPG d eal gets another go-ahead in the U.K.. Then, Reddit chief operating officer Jennifer Wong joins the Digiday Podcast to talk about Reddit's plans to become a go-to search engine.

Pam Jenkins recently left Weber Shandwick, where she spent the last two decades, to join nonprofit Shatterproof as its CEO. The organization works to reduce the burden of substance use disorder in the U.S. by increasing access to treatment, expanding education and driving public policy change. Jenkins talks about her previous work with Shatterproof at Weber and her plans for the nonprofit.Plus, the biggest marketing and communications news of the week, such as Omnicom's poor PR financial results in Q2; reports of a possible tie-up between WPP and Accenture; and prominent people moves at Real Chemistry and Golin.  AI Deciphered is back—live in New York City this November 13th.Join leaders from brands, agencies, and platforms for a future-focused conversation on how AI is transforming media, marketing, and the retail experience. Ready to future-proof your strategy? Secure your spot now at aidecipheredsummit.com. Use code POD at check out for $100 your ticket! Follow us: @PRWeekUSReceive the latest industry news, insights, and special reports. Start Your Free 1-Month Trial Subscription To PRWeek

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover AI summaries on Google Discover raising publisher concerns, Omnicom topping estimates on APAC strength but seeing its profitability decline, and generative AI adoption in video ads soaring. 

In der heutigen Folge sprechen die Finanzjournalisten Holger Zschäpitz und Lea Oetjen über einen neuen Rekord beim Bitcoin, die Superman-Aktie Warner Brothers Discorvery und die Autogewinner und Verlierer der US-Zölle. Außerdem geht es um Bitcoin, Circle, Iren, Strategy, Coinbase, M&S, ASOS, Amazon, Fastenal, Omnicom, Volkswagen, Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, AST SpaceMobile, Globalstar, Iridium, Spire, RocketLab, Intuitiv Machines, Astroscale Holdings, VanEck Space Innovators UCITS ETF (WKN: A3DP9J), Douglas. Wir freuen uns über Feedback an aaa@welt.de. Noch mehr "Alles auf Aktien" findet Ihr bei WELTplus und Apple Podcasts – inklusive aller Artikel der Hosts und AAA-Newsletter.[ Hier bei WELT.](https://www.welt.de/podcasts/alles-auf-aktien/plus247399208/Boersen-Podcast-AAA-Bonus-Folgen-Jede-Woche-noch-mehr-Antworten-auf-Eure-Boersen-Fragen.html.) [Hier] (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6zxjyJpTMunyYCY6F7vHK1?si=8f6cTnkEQnmSrlMU8Vo6uQ) findest Du die Samstagsfolgen Klassiker-Playlist auf Spotify! Disclaimer: Die im Podcast besprochenen Aktien und Fonds stellen keine spezifischen Kauf- oder Anlage-Empfehlungen dar. Die Moderatoren und der Verlag haften nicht für etwaige Verluste, die aufgrund der Umsetzung der Gedanken oder Ideen entstehen. Hörtipps: Für alle, die noch mehr wissen wollen: Holger Zschäpitz können Sie jede Woche im Finanz- und Wirtschaftspodcast "Deffner&Zschäpitz" hören. +++ Werbung +++ Du möchtest mehr über unsere Werbepartner erfahren? [**Hier findest du alle Infos & Rabatte!**](https://linktr.ee/alles_auf_aktien) Impressum: https://www.welt.de/services/article7893735/Impressum.html Datenschutz: https://www.welt.de/services/article157550705/Datenschutzerklaerung-WELT-DIGITAL.html

We're checking in on the latest news in tech and free speech. We cover the state AI regulation moratorium that failed in Congress, the ongoing Character A.I. lawsuit, the Federal Trade Commission's consent decree with Omnicom and Interpublic Group, the European Union's Digital Services Act, and what comes next after the Supreme Court's Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton decision. Guests: Ari Cohn — lead counsel for tech policy, FIRE Corbin Barthold — internet policy counsel, TechFreedom Timestamps:  00:00 Intro 02:38 State AI regulation moratorium fails in Congress 20:04 Character AI lawsuit 41:10 FTC, Omnicom x IPG merger, and Media Matters 56:09 Digital Services Act 01:02:43 FSC v. Paxton decision 01:10:49 Outro  Enjoy listening to the podcast? Donate to FIRE today and get exclusive content like member webinars, special episodes, and more. If you became a FIRE Member through a donation to FIRE at thefire.org and would like access to Substack's paid subscriber podcast feed, please email sotospeak@thefire.org. Show notes: “The AI will see you now” Paul Sherman (2025) Megan Garcia, plaintiff, v. Character Technologies, Inc. et. al., defendants, United States District Court (2025) Proposed amicus brief in support of appeal - Garcia v. Character Technologies, Inc. FIRE (2025) “Amplification and its discontents: Why regulating the reach of online content is hard” Daphne Kelly (2021) “Omnicom Group/The Interpublic Group of Co.” FTC (2025)

Marketers are often held back by fragmented data and misaligned metrics. In this episode of The Marketing Intelligence Show by Supermetrics, leaders from HubSpot, Ascott, and Omnicom share how they're building centralized data strategies to overcome these challenges — boosting efficiency, clarity, and impact across their teams.Kat Warboys, Senior Director APAC Marketing, HubspotTan Gan Hup, Vice President Marketing, Loyalty & Partnerships, The Ascott LimitedHayley Monteiro, Head of Media Implementation, Omnicom Media Group AustraliaListen now to discover how they're connecting the dots between data and results.

Next in Media discusses the evolving role of influencers in marketing with Megan Pagliuca, Chief Product Officer at Omnicom Media Group, and Khurrum Malik, Head of Marketing for Walmart Connect, focusing on how data and new strategies are integrating influencers into broader media plans to drive sales and brand building.

In this week's episode of The Refresh (July 7, 2025), Kait breaks down the top stories reshaping advertising and media. Apple's massive push into theatrical releases hits a milestone with F1, raising questions about the long game for Apple's entertainment ambitions. Meanwhile, Google launches OfferWall, a monetization tool built for the post-cookie, AI-dominated internet. And on Wall Street, Barclays delivers a sobering forecast for holding companies despite their AI investments. It's a week that highlights how media, monetization, and market pressure are colliding across the ecosystem. 5 Key Highlights:  Apple's F1 film makes a strong debut, grossing $144 million globally in its opening weekend, but with production and marketing costs over $375 million, profitability is still uncertain. Apple's aggressive marketing strategy for F1 leveraged its entire ecosystem—from WWDC tie-ins and haptic trailers to in-phone ticket discounts via Apple Wallet—sparking debate over consumer boundaries.  Google launches OfferWall, a new feature within Google Ad Manager allowing users to unlock premium content through ads, surveys, payments, or newsletter opt-ins, aiming to help publishers recover lost revenue in the AI-search era.  OfferWall signals a move toward an incentivized internet, where users explicitly trade data, time, or small payments for content, though infrastructure and behavioral shifts are still major hurdles. • Barclays downgrades major ad holding companies (IPG, Omnicom, WPP), citing slow growth and AI disruption to traditional business models—but notes their current AI product launches and scale could pay off long-term.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's already the heat of summer, and the news keeps coming. Nilay, David, and Jake start the show with a bunch of tech news, including the latest on Tesla's robotaxi launch, some updates on the Trump Phone, new devices from Fairphone and Unihertz, and Meta's shifting strategy for face computers. After that, The Verge's Adi Roberston joins the show to talk about two important AI lawsuits that were both decided this week — one involving Anthropic and the other involving Meta — and what this particular battle means for who will win the AI war. Finally, in the lightning round, it's time for another round of Brendan Carr is a Dummy, some huge news in the HDMI world, and the end of the Blue Screen of Death. Further reading: Tesla's robotaxis are operating in a regulatory vacuum  Here's a running list of all of Tesla's robotaxi mishaps so far The Trump Phone no longer promises it's made in America  The smaller Fairphone 6 introduces swappable accessories The Titan 2 is a modern BlackBerry with 5G, Android, and two screens  A week in Xbox VR with Microsoft and Meta's new $399 headset  Meta announces Oakley smart glasses that shoot 3K video  Anthropic wins a major fair use victory for AI — but it's still in trouble for stealing books Meta's AI copyright win comes with a warning about fair use Senate confirms Trump's FCC pick, Olivia Trusty FCC Seeks Public Comments on Changing Broadcast Ownership Rules Trump's FTC agrees to Omnicom merger — with a gift to X  Paramount Plus with Showtime is getting a rebrand  Paramount delays $35M settlement with Trump as media giant fears bribery backlash: sources The Paramount Risk in Settling Trump's Lawsuit: ‘Bribery'? The HDMI 2.2 specification supports 16K video at 60Hz Email us at vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The FTC approved the Omnicom-IPG merger, but with a brand-safety caveat: The agencies cannot create agency-level blocklists of any media that's political or ideological. With Ad Fontes CEO Vanessa Otero, we unpack the consent order's ramifications.

This is truly a moment of immense transformation for the comms industry — “and Cannes just accelerates that.” So believes Omnicom PR Group CEO Chris Foster. In this conversation with PRWeek VP and editorial director Steve Barrett, Foster highlights what he deems to be wake-up calls for the sector. Of course, there was much that energized him during his week on the Croisette, including some particularly timely awards submissions from the PR industry that epitomized the proactive solutions toward which the sector should strive.AI Deciphered is back—live in New York City this November 13th.Join leaders from brands, agencies, and platforms for a future-focused conversation on how AI is transforming media, marketing, and the retail experience. Ready to future-proof your strategy? Secure your spot now at aidecipheredsummit.com. Use code POD at check out for $100 your ticket!    Follow us: @PRWeekUS Receive the latest industry news, insights, and special reports. Start Your Free 1-Month Trial Subscription To PRWeek

In today's MadTech Daily, we cover the CMA's proposed search overhaul to curb Google's dominance, the FTC's intervention in the Omnicom-IPG merger, and the eSafety commissioner's call to include YouTube in Australia's under-16s social media ban. We also discuss the UK's launch of a £380m plan to power creative industry growth.

This week's episode recaps Meta's reported look at acquiring Perplexity, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's conditional approval of the Omnicom-IPG merger and Netflix's deal to carry traditional TV networks in France. Then Select Management Group's Danielle Pistotnik (21:45) joins the show to go behind the scenes of developing “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” around a group of TikTok creators and selling the reality show to Disney-owned Hulu.

In today's MadTech Daily, we discuss Google being hit in a €4.1bn Android fine battle, Microsoft considering abandoning high-stakes negotiations with OpenAI, OpenAI ending work with Scale AI after its Meta deal, as well as Omnicom closing Cannes Lions with a YouTube livestream deal.

Are you keeping up with the forces redefining loyalty, or are you relying on yesterday's strategies in today's fractured landscape? Today, I'm joined by Ian Baer, Founder of Sooth and a seasoned expert with over 35 years of experience leading some of the world's most prominent advertising organizations, including Publicis, TBWA, and Omnicom's Rapp Collins. Ian brings insights into how generational shifts, social commerce, and fragmented media are reshaping the concept of brand loyalty. He's here to share data-driven strategies and real-world examples that will help brands navigate this new loyalty landscape. RESOURCES Don't miss Medallia Experience 2025, March 24-26 in Las Vegas: Registration is now available: https://cvent.me/AmO1k0 Use code MEDEXP25 for $200 off registration Register now for HumanX 2025. This AI-focused event which brings some of the most forward-thinking minds in technology together. Register now with the code "HX25p_tab" for $250 off the regular price. Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company