‘Wasting A Lot Of Budget’: Heatseeker’s New CTO On Why Guessing Without Testing Is Failing Marketers
Heatseeker has appointed former Google AI leader Kawal Gandhi as chief technology officer, signaling a push to replace traditional survey‑based market research with AI‑driven behavioural experiments. The platform runs live “ghost ads” on social media to capture real clicks, sign‑ups and other actions, delivering demand evidence in days rather than months. Current customers such as Cisco, DoorDash and L’Oréal are using the tool to cut testing cycles from weeks to under a week. Gandhi warns that legacy research wastes budget because stated intent only matches actual behaviour 20‑30 percent of the time.
AI Is 'Fuelling' Shift Work Economy Despite Employee Scepticism
Deputy’s new report, based on 41 million shifts and 268 million hours, shows AI is accelerating the shift‑work economy rather than displacing frontline jobs. AI tools are trimming documentation, improving patient coordination in hospitals, and sharpening demand forecasting and staffing precision in...
Royal Navy Tracks Russian Warships for Ten Days in UK Waters
From 29 March to 7 April, the Royal Navy dispatched HMS Mersey, HMS Somerset and HMS St Albans to shadow a series of Russian warships transiting the English Channel and the North Sea. The British vessels tracked the Admiral Grigorovich frigate, the Aleksandr Shabalin tank landing...
The R&D Tax Credit: A Powerful but Overlooked Incentive for the Agriculture Industry
The federal Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit, codified under IRC Section 41, now extends to agricultural innovators who experiment with crops, livestock, and production processes. Qualified Small Businesses (gross receipts under $5 million) can apply up to $500,000 of the credit...
Sport Draws Crowds and a Drama Feat on Thursday
Thursday’s Australian TV ratings showed sport driving viewership, with the NRL broadcast attracting 699,000 viewers and narrowly surpassing the AFL Gather Round. Nine Network led the national audience tally at 699,000, just ahead of Seven’s 667,000. Seven’s entertainment flagship Home...
AMI Interim CEO Says ‘High Tide Will Help All Ships’ as New Marketing Group Launches
The Australian Marketing Institute (AMI) named Kathryn Illy as interim CEO following Bronwyn Heys' departure. At the same time, marketer Michael Apte launched the Sydney Marketing Community (SMC), which has already attracted about 1,000 members. Both SMC and The Marketing...
Energy Insiders Podcast: Why Wind Projects Are Stalled at the Gate
Large‑scale wind projects are hitting a financing wall, leaving many proposals stalled before construction. Richie Merzian of CEIG points to a looming carbon‑price (CGT) risk and structural flaws in the Clean Energy Incentive Scheme (CIS) as key deterrents. The episode...
EU Poised to Slash up to €1.5B in Funding to Serbia over Democracy Fears
European Commission is considering withholding up to €1.5 billion (about $1.6 billion) in conditional funding to Serbia over concerns about democratic backsliding, including recent judicial reforms and media repression. The decision hinges on whether Serbia complies with recommendations from the Council of...
Justice Department Probes NFL As Consumers Say Watching Football Is Too Expensive
The U.S. Justice Department has opened an antitrust investigation into the National Football League’s broadcast and streaming practices, alleging possible anti‑competitive tactics that may be inflating fan costs. Consumers complain they must juggle multiple subscriptions to watch all desired games,...
Sportsbet Pulls NRL Fundraising Campaign Over Commercial Conflicts
Sportsbet has withdrawn its annual NRL "Try July" fundraising campaign after clubs raised concerns that on‑field celebrations would clash with existing betting sponsors. The program promised to donate AU$5,000 (≈US$3,300) per try and has raised nearly AU$2 million (≈US$1.3 million) for the Australian...
Sling TV Launches “Essential” Pack with ESPN, Disney Channel
Sling TV introduced a new $20 per month "Sling Essentials" package that bundles ESPN, ESPN2 and more than a dozen family and classic channels, including Disney Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. The offering pulls content from the existing Sling...
Google Owns the Most AI Compute, and It Built It Its Way
Google is now the largest single owner of AI compute, holding roughly one‑quarter of the world’s capacity – about 5 million H100‑equivalent units, most of which are its own TPU chips. By contrast, only about 25 % of that compute relies on...
US-Iran Ceasefire Deal Shows Strain Ahead of Talks with Oil Flows Squeezed
A fragile two‑week U.S.–Iran ceasefire is under pressure as Tehran is accused of keeping the Strait of Hormuz blocked, limiting oil flows to a single tanker and five bulk carriers in the first 24 hours. Israel’s intensified strikes on Lebanon,...
Argon & Co Hones Delivery Model with Quadruple Local Promotion
Argon & Co has elevated Oliver North, Warren Proctor, Evert Westerhof and Felix Kong to partner status, signaling a strategic pivot toward data, digital and AI‑enabled transformation. The new partners will spearhead the firm’s MODE optimisation framework, AI‑driven procurement services...
Cash Flow Underwriting Expands Economic Opportunity by Looking at Behavior in the Present, Not the Past
Cash flow underwriting replaces reliance on historical credit data with real‑time analysis of transactional accounts. By monitoring spending patterns, income streams, and debt management, lenders gain a dynamic view of a borrower’s current financial health. The approach complements traditional credit...
Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto Could Visit Russia Soon, Kremlin Says
Indonesia’s president Prabowo Subianto is preparing a visit to Russia, where he is expected to meet Vladimir Putin and discuss potential oil purchases. The Kremlin confirmed talks are underway as Asian nations scramble for alternative energy amid a widening Middle‑East‑driven crisis....
Amit Saberwal on Growing Hotels in a Shifting Market
RedDoorz, led by founder‑CEO Amit Saberwal, is sustaining 25% year‑over‑year growth while expanding its multi‑brand portfolio, with premium brands growing 40‑50% annually. The company now operates over 100 company‑run hotels and plans to double that number within 12‑18 months, using...
DSIT Launches Recruitment for Two More DGs
The UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has launched recruitment for two additional Director General (DG) positions—digital transformation and digital products—offering salaries of £200,000‑£260,000 (approximately $250,000‑$325,000). Both roles are currently filled on an interim basis by Emily Middleton...
Gen Z Perspectives: DBS Seeks Creative Agency, Esquire SG's AI Play & Nutella Goes Cosmic
DBS’s marketing chief announced a regional search for a creative agency to reinforce the bank’s image as a “beacon of trust” across Singapore, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia and Taiwan. Esquire Singapore faced backlash after an AI‑generated interview with actor Mackenyu,...
Macquarie Centre Launches A/W 2026 Season with New Digital-First Campaign via iD Collective
Macquarie Centre has teamed with iD Collective to roll out a digital‑first Autumn‑Winter 2026 campaign, spotlighting its premium fashion mix. The effort features Australian actress‑singer Tammin Sursok and model Francesca Hung modeling collections from Aje, Polo Ralph Lauren, Witchery and Zara. iD...
New Bike Tech: Flaanimals, Bikepacking The Life Time Grand Prix, and More MAAP
PeopleForBikes secured a policy win as the Trump administration dropped bicycles, e‑bikes and frames from the 50% Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs, ending a year‑and‑a‑half of tariff uncertainty. The advocacy group rallied manufacturers, retailers and riders, generating 1,300 public comments...
Snapshot: "People First, Always" – Certis' Dr Jaclyn Lee on Leading HR in a Tech‑driven Industry
Dr Jaclyn Lee, Certis’ CHRO, says HR must be built outward from business needs and stay data‑driven to remain at the decision‑making table. She outlines a five‑pillar HR roadmap—strategic rewards, talent development, employer brand, business partnering, and HR tech/analytics—anchored by real‑time...
Series A Free Weekender on DAZN
DAZN is offering UK and Ireland viewers a free weekend of Serie A Matchday 32 from April 10‑13, covering seven live fixtures. The promotion includes high‑stakes games such as Inter Milan versus Como, a potential title‑clinching showdown, and a relegation battle featuring Jamie Vardy’s...
Morning Brief Podcast: For India’s Exporters, It’s One Battle After Another
The Morning Brief podcast highlighted how the ongoing Middle‑East crisis is straining India’s export sectors, from leather to textiles and gems & jewellery. Exporters reported rising input costs for leather, a noticeable dip in knitwear demand, and a sharp contraction...
Organized Creativity Drives Handmade Business Growth
Handmade creators often start in chaotic studios, but as orders rise, disorganisation becomes a hidden cost that erodes profit and delays delivery. Implementing structured storage, repeatable processes, and data‑driven inventory transforms workflow efficiency and supports scaling without stifling creativity. The...
What Will It Take to Get Ships Going Through the Strait of Hormuz Again?
President Trump’s cease‑fire announcement on April 8 sparked hopes that Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but traffic remained minimal. Iran’s recent threats and attacks have slashed daily commercial transits from roughly 130 vessels to only a few, creating...
CB Hot Suit Takes: Jarrick Lay, Business Director & Founder, SICKDOGWOLFMAN
Jarrick Lay, founder of the boutique agency SICKDOGWOLFMAN, sat down for Campaign Brief’s Hot Suit Takes series to discuss his unconventional path into advertising and the launch of Slather, a consumer brand that diverges from the firm’s traditional services model. He...
Catalano’s Australian Community Media Posts $7.9m Loss
Australian Community Media (ACM) reported a 30 million‑AUD (≈20 million‑USD) revenue decline to 214 million AUD and a net after‑tax loss of 7.9 million AUD (≈5.2 million‑USD) for FY2025, up from a 2.5 million‑AUD loss the prior year. The drop was driven by a 13 million‑AUD (≈8.6 million‑USD) fall in...
Anthropic and OpenAI Target Big Businesses with Enterprise-Grade Controls and Lower Pricing
Anthropic announced enterprise‑grade controls for its Claude Cowork agent, adding role‑based access, team spend limits, and OpenTelemetry observability to help large firms manage AI deployments. OpenAI responded by cutting the price of its Codex Pro plan to $100 per month, offering...
After Ceasefire, Iranian Attacks Cut Saudi Oil Production
Saudi officials confirmed that a series of Iranian drone and missile attacks in the past 48 hours severely damaged key oil and gas infrastructure. The East‑West pipeline’s throughput fell by about 700,000 barrels per day, while the Manifa and Khurais...
Here’s Where HR and Finance Aren’t in Lockstep, According to Deloitte Data
Deloitte’s 2026 CFO Guide and Human Capital Trends report both confirm that a hybrid AI‑human workforce is now an operational reality, yet they speak different languages about the same challenge. While finance emphasizes AI infrastructure, cost control and ROI, HR...
Hyatt Eyes an India-First Brand — Exclusive
Hyatt Hotels is exploring a brand built exclusively for India, echoing its Atona concept in Japan. The chain, which entered the market in 1983 and now runs 55 properties, plans to double that count to 100 hotels by 2030. To...
India Inflation Likely Rose to 3.4% in March 2026: Mint Poll
India’s consumer price index is projected to climb to 3.4% in March 2026, up from 3.2% in February, according to a Mint poll of 16 economists. The modest rise marks a 12‑month high, driven by higher fuel prices and a...
Ritson Is Right About WPP — but He Is Using the Wrong Map
WPP announced a sweeping re‑branding that places its flagship agencies—Ogilvy, VML and AKQA—under the new WPP Creative umbrella, a move championed by CEO Cindy Rose. Mark Ritson praised the intent but warned the strategy relies on the three‑decade‑old Aaker brand‑architecture...
Quiet Achiever Acast Says ‘Authentic Integration Is on the Rise’
Acast, the Swedish‑founded podcast network, has secured the return of Abbie Chatfield’s “It’s A Lot” podcast and highlighted a surge in “authentic integration” where ads extend beyond audio to social and video platforms. The company leverages its global footprint in...
Financial Services Bear Maximum Brunt of Late-March FPI Selloff
Foreign portfolio investors dumped over ₹60,000 crore (≈ $7.2 billion) from Indian financial services in the second half of March, the steepest outflow since 2012. The sell‑off peaked at ₹28,824 crore (≈ $3.5 billion) from March 16‑31, contributing 43% of the ₹67,081 crore (≈ $8.1 billion) withdrawn across 21 sectors. Banking...
AI Is Making Bad Decisions Easier to Justify
AI is increasingly deployed as a decision‑making co‑pilot, but its confident outputs often cement outcome bias, turning good processes into post‑hoc justifications. The article argues that organizations should stop judging decisions by results and instead evaluate the rigor of the...
How to Show some Class when You Deliver Bad News
Executives anticipate a turbulent decade, with 57% expecting stormy conditions, forcing organizations to deliver more bad news. Yet a gap persists: 80% of leaders rate internal communications as clear, while only half of employees agree. Poorly handled bad news erodes...
First Bancshares Inc (Missouri) (FBSI) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
First Bancshares reported a record $1 billion in annual revenue and $345 million net income for 2025, highlighted by a $87 million Q1 profit of $0.8055 per share. The bank posted a top‑quartile 1.8% return on assets and a disciplined 49% efficiency ratio....
Cabinet Eyes Rules to Protect Migrants
Taiwan’s Cabinet approved a draft amendment that outright bans employers and labor brokers from retaining migrant workers’ identity documents or confiscating their personal property. The measure tightens penalties, imposing fines of NT$60,000 to NT$300,000 (approximately $1,900‑$9,600) and possible revocation of...
Taiwan Athletics Open Canceled Due to Budget Holdup
The Chinese Taipei Athletics Association announced the cancellation of the Taiwan Athletics Open, originally slated for June 6‑7, after the Ministry of Sports’ FY2026 budget remained stuck in the legislature. All registration fees will be fully reimbursed, and Minister Lee...
People
Liza Burnett Fefferman, former EVP of Communications at Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios, has been hired as Anonymous Content’s inaugural Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, a role created to centralize the studio’s messaging and brand strategy. Telecom provider TDS announced a slate of...
Equity Group Wants More Charter-Cox Commitments
The Digital Equity Los Angeles Coalition (DELAC) has been granted party status in the California Public Utilities Commission’s review of the proposed $34.5 billion merger between Charter Communications and Cox Communications. DELAC argues the merger lacks enforceable commitments to low‑income broadband,...
Xoople Raises $130 Million in Funding to Gather Optical Data Of Earth For AI
Xoople, a Spanish data‑infrastructure startup, closed a $130 million Series B round led by Nazca Capital, MCH Private Equity, CDTI, Buenavista Equity Partners and Endeavor Catalyst. The funding will finance the development of its own optical‑satellite constellation in partnership with U.S. defense...
Nexstar-Tegna TRO Extended
A federal judge has extended the temporary restraining order blocking Nexstar's acquisition of Tegna until April 17, 6 pm PT, citing the need to preserve the status quo and prevent irreparable harm. The order reinforces earlier findings that there is no...
Shanghai Cooperation Organization Takes Steps to Open Financing Arm
Kyrgyzstan, set to chair the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 2026, is pushing to launch an SCO Development Bank (SCODB) during its tenure. The bank concept was approved by all ten SCO members at the 2025 summit, with Chinese President Xi...
AI-Driven Marketers Have a Focus Problem
AI tools now let marketers launch campaigns at unprecedented speed, turning execution into a non‑issue. However, the flood of data and simultaneous projects creates a focus bottleneck, leaving teams unsure which initiatives to prioritize. Amplitude’s AI‑driven agentic analytics—through its Global...
Paving the Road for AI Agents: Interview with Factory CEO Matan Grinberg
Factory CEO Matan Grinberg outlines his company’s strategy to commercialize autonomous AI agents that can execute complex tasks across enterprise workflows. He highlights recent product releases that integrate large‑language models with real‑time data APIs, enabling agents to retrieve, analyze, and...
Standard Chartered: Oil Price Correction Is Likely Overdone
Standard Chartered warns that the recent oil‑price correction may be too deep, noting Brent crude at $95.57/bbl and WTI at $96.99/bbl after the steepest drop since the Iran war began. The bank’s Q2 forecast still targets Brent around $98 and...
Stefano Gabbana Has Stepped Down
Stefano Gabbana resigned as chairman of Dolce & Gabbana in December, ending his formal leadership role at the luxury house he co‑founded. He retains a 40% equity stake and is weighing options for its disposition. Alfonso Dolce, the brother of co‑founder Domenico,...