CMO Pulse News and Headlines
CMO Pulse News and Headlines
AMV BBDO announced that longtime partners Nadja Lossgott and Nick Hulley will leave the agency at the end of April. Both have been instrumental in driving the firm’s integrated campaigns and client wins over the past decade. Their exit comes as AMV BBDO reports steady revenue growth and is preparing a succession plan. The agency will promote internal talent to fill the leadership gap.
Guideline launched its Media Plan Management MCP Server, allowing agencies and advertisers to link any MCP‑compatible AI agent—such as Claude or ChatGPT—to its media planning platform. Built on the open Model Context Protocol, the server provides a plug‑and‑play, read‑only connection...
Men’s Wearhouse partnered with Ovative Group and The Trade Desk’s Kokai platform to run an audio‑only campaign across Spotify, iHeart, Acast and Pandora from March to June 2025. The campaign, aimed at younger “Stylish Steve” and older “Professional Paul” men,...
Ford is re‑entering Formula 1 after more than two decades, partnering with Oracle Red Bull Racing and extending its global "Ready Set Ford" campaign. The automaker is abandoning traditional TV spots in favor of Apple TV’s sequential ad format, creating a micro‑docuseries that links F1...
Global advertising group WPP unveiled its Elevate28 plan, a strategic overhaul aimed at accelerating digital growth and cutting costs. The roadmap promises up to 15% revenue uplift by 2028, £500 million in annual savings, and a shift toward data‑driven creative services....
Charli Wright argues that Middle East brands suffer from a disconnect between marketing creativity and commercial objectives, not a lack of ideas. Fragmented thinking leads to short‑term, visually impressive campaigns that miss regional buying triggers and fail to deliver sustainable...
Fnp.ae turned the crowded UAE Valentine’s market into a cultural moment with its “Create Your Own Rom‑Com Moment” campaign. The brand deployed a fully integrated media mix—DOOH billboards, premium digital screens, front‑page print, cultural publishers and live radio—to saturate commuter...
The marketing industry’s long‑standing belief that more data equals better personalization is being upended by AI and privacy regulation. In the Middle East, the Personal Data Protection Law forces companies to redesign systems around contextual, real‑time signals rather than persistent...
Publicis Groupe APAC has created a new chief communications officer role and appointed Naomi Michael, effective 9 March 2026, to lead regional communications from Singapore. Michael arrives after senior stints at Omnicom Media and IPG Mediabrands, bringing more than two decades of...
Sephora is deepening its K‑beauty hair‑care offering, now featuring 17 Korean brands after adding Dr. Groot and Unove. Dr. Groot will launch online on April 1 and in stores on May 15, while Unove debuted earlier with a seven‑SKU line priced $13‑$28. The retailer...
Sling & Stone has named Nichole Provatas, formerly of We Communications, as the inaugural Managing Director of its Australian operation. Provatas will steer the agency’s expansion across AI‑driven visibility, strategic insight, social, creative and content services. Her portfolio includes high‑profile...
Microsoft Advertising’s Regional Sales Director for APAC, Renee Stopps, discussed her unconventional rise from account director to a newly created regional leadership role. She credited mentorship, continuous learning, and a willingness to take stretch assignments for building confidence and authenticity...
Ogilvy Health Australia has unveiled OTC Influence, a new service that shifts over‑the‑counter (OTC) brand marketing from pure efficacy messaging to culturally‑driven storytelling. The offering uses social‑media‑first tactics, health influencers, earned media and owned content to embed brands in current...
Sportscafe, the New Zealand‑originated YouTube‑first sports show, has launched an Australian version, extending its podcast and video footprint across Sydney and the broader market. Founder Ric Salizzo stresses that brand partnerships must improve the viewer experience rather than interrupt it, a philosophy...
Foxtel Group has appointed former NBL executive Ted Helliar as Director of Engagement, Community and Fandom for its Kayo Sports and Fox Sports brands. In the role, Helliar will oversee all social and creator teams, aiming to deepen fan connections...
This week MarkLives MEDIA highlighted six South African media leaders discussing the innovations that reshaped the industry in 2025, ranging from AI‑driven content creation to programmatic television buying. The upcoming issue will feature an exclusive interview with Merissa Himraj, WPP Media’s...
WPP Media announced that Nancy Lan will lead Mindshare’s Sydney client portfolio, overseeing brands such as Unilever, IKEA, uBank and Blackmores. Lan arrives with more than two decades of leadership across Australia, Asia and Europe, including senior roles at Virgin...
Google has launched its Video Reach Campaign (VRC) Non‑Skip ads globally, targeting connected‑TV screens, while YouTube mobile users are encountering persistent overlay ads that cannot be dismissed. The ads stay visible despite repeated taps on “Dismiss,” prompting Reddit complaints and...
Graza, the fifth‑largest U.S. olive‑oil brand, has unveiled its largest paid marketing effort, the “Seriously Serious” campaign, to launch a new line of olive‑oil mayonnaise. The campaign features absurdist TV and streaming spots, a $250,000 Grand‑Prize sponsorship of Bravo’s Top Chef,...
Brooks Brothers, the United States' oldest continuously operating apparel brand, launched the "Make It Yours" campaign to reposition itself for a new generation of shoppers. The initiative emphasizes individuality while honoring the label's heritage, showcasing classic items such as Oxford...
PR experts are urging a move from basic positive‑neutral‑negative sentiment tracking to an emotion‑focused strategy. Bianca Prade highlighted that emotions such as joy, anger, fear and trust better predict purchase intent, churn and crisis velocity. She introduced three critical metrics—velocity,...
WPP Creative chief executive Jon Cook announced that the agency will redesign its operating model around how consumers actually experience a brand. He emphasized that customers no longer view media and creative as separate entities, prompting a unified, consumer‑first approach....
MOIA America, Volkswagen Group’s autonomous‑vehicle subsidiary, appointed Marcus Gamo as head of U.S. communications, tasking him with building a new communications team as the firm prepares its Buzz ride‑pooling service and Mobileye‑powered self‑driving system for launch with Uber. Continental Strategy...
WPP Media announced the appointment of a former Publicis global client president, who will begin her role on 17 March. The executive brings extensive experience managing multinational advertising accounts and overseeing integrated media strategies. Her arrival bolsters WPP's leadership team...
Vodafone Egypt launched a culturally focused Ramadan campaign to counteract the growing fragmentation of family time caused by hectic work schedules and digital overload. The 360‑degree rollout combined TV, digital, OOH, radio, influencer collaborations and a new Bluetooth‑based "Nearby" feature...
British actress Vanessa Kirby has been appointed Lancôme’s new global ambassador. The partnership underscores the brand’s emphasis on “sophisticated vulnerability” and everyday natural beauty, resonating with Kirby’s personal history and recent transition to motherhood. She will headline upcoming campaigns for...
Luxury brands are shifting focus from pure aesthetics to performance‑wellness, driven by data‑rich consumers who demand tangible benefits like better energy, sleep and focus. Wearable technology has made fatigue measurable, turning performance into a competitive metric. The Middle East, with...
The Vitamin Shoppe unveiled its first Suppie Awards, a brand‑focused accolade created with Hearst Magazines, while supplement‑tracking startup SuppCo launched a “Tested by SuppCo” certification program featuring a roster of leading supplement brands. Both initiatives aim to provide third‑party validation...
Havas Malaysia announced a wave of senior promotions and new hires to reinforce its next‑phase growth strategy. Bowie Tiong was elevated to General Manager, expanding oversight of business performance and client leadership. New appointments include Ie‑Tsen Cheng as Business Director,...
Amazon has rolled out a new Australian advertising push featuring comedian Steph Tisdell, created by Droga5 ANZ. The campaign spotlights Amazon’s low‑price promise, encouraging shoppers to spend less on gifts for family, friends and pets while still showing love. It...
GIGIL Philippines launched an innovative out‑of‑home (OOH) billboard for Grab that flips between day and night to illustrate how each ride funds a driver’s child’s education. The visual features a Grab motorcycle with school supplies by day and a shadowed...
The Australian Centre for AI in Marketing (ACAM) has unveiled AI‑Results Transformation (ART), the nation’s first end‑to‑end system for embedding AI into marketing performance. THE ICONIC became one of the inaugural adopters, using ART to create responsible, data‑driven customer experiences....
ABEL, Westfund Health Insurance, and the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation have launched a national campaign offering free 3D mobile skin scans in regional Australia. The initiative brings world‑first 3D scanning technology directly to communities, removing cost and access barriers. Using...
Engineers Australia and Bastion are launching the “In Her Corner” campaign at the Australian Grand Prix, renaming Turn 6 to honor engineers Laura K. Müller and Hannah Schmitz. This marks the first time a Formula 1 corner is named after women, aligning...
Meta is piloting a shopping research feature inside its Meta AI chatbot for U.S. users. The tool returns a carousel of product images with brand, price, and website details, plus brief recommendation bullet points. The move mirrors similar experiments by...
Bubble tea chain Chatime has appointed former Guzman y Gomez marketer Alison Walsh as its new Chief Marketing Officer for Australia. The hire follows the departure of global CMO Jeff Chang and national marketing manager Rachel Druce, marking a shift...
Zoom Communications has appointed Dallas‑based PMG as its first global media agency of record, committing an estimated $25 million annual media spend. The partnership aligns with Zoom’s transition from a meeting platform to an AI‑first workplace, leveraging PMG’s Alli operating system...
Seedtag announced the appointment of Brendan McCarthy as Chief Marketing & Communications Officer. McCarthy, former CMO of Criteo, brings over 20 years of marketing leadership at Fortune 500 firms. He will oversee global marketing, brand, demand generation, and communications to...
Caraway, a six‑year‑old cookware startup, has launched its first major out‑of‑home (OOH) advertising campaign to become “impossible to ignore.” The eye‑catching mural at Columbus Circle subway targets high‑traffic commuters. After growing from a pure DTC model, the brand now sells...
Sarah Hofstetter, former president and chairwoman of Profitero+, is exiting the Publicis‑owned ecommerce analytics firm to launch her own consultancy. She describes the shift as moving to a portfolio model, helping multiple companies navigate volatility. Hofstetter will stay connected to...
Thom Browne, the New York‑based tailoring label, has launched its first partnership with sportswear giant Asics, creating a limited‑edition sneaker that blends the designer’s sleek aesthetic with Asics’ performance technology. The collaboration marks a strategic move for both brands: Browne...
Burson has promoted its EMEA COO Matt Buchanan to the newly created global chief social and influence officer role, tasking him with scaling social capabilities worldwide. Olly Gosling joins Burson as head of social and influence for EMEA, bringing experience...
Cinnabon’s social media manager Hannah Gregus sparked an unexpected dialogue with Slim Jim on X, initially without a formal plan. The spontaneous banter evolved over a year into a fan‑driven narrative that culminated in a tongue‑in‑cheek "wedding" featuring vows, polls, and...
Julia Garner has been named a global brand ambassador for luxury fashion house Loewe, announced by the label’s new creative directors Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez. The Emmy‑winning actress, previously linked to Gucci, will front Loewe’s upcoming campaigns, reflecting the designers’ vision...
UK health insurer Bupa has selected the creative agency Ace of Hearts to lead its new advertising and strategic initiatives. The agency was chosen after a competitive pitch process coordinated by Ingenuity+, a specialist agency network. The partnership is expected...
Sabco has introduced Neet!, a new cleaning brand sold exclusively at Bunnings Warehouse in Australia and New Zealand. The brand, developed with agency DPR&Co, features a youthful "Chuck the Muck" positioning aimed at first‑time, younger cleaning consumers. Its launch includes...
The One Centre Group has rebranded its 2019 investment Zephyr Social as Zephyr One, joining its constellation of specialist branding firms. The 12‑person agency now offers commercial strategy, performance media, and creative services through its proprietary System One model. Founders...
Australian heritage paint brand Taubmans, together with creative agency Sunday Gravy, has unveiled the “Making Painters” platform, a brand campaign that positions the company as the ally of everyday painters. The initiative embraces the messy realities of home painting—faded colours,...
Shake Shack promoted Alaric Sng to global marketing director, giving him oversight of Mainland China, Southeast Asia and new APAC markets. The role expands his previous responsibilities rather than replacing an existing director. Sng joins from a background in loyalty...
Agent99 PR and Born are hosting a free webinar titled “Bravery, Budget & Bullsh*t: What Actually Drives Impact” on March 12 at noon, aimed at senior marketers. The session will dissect where brands overspend and pinpoint tactics that deliver genuine commercial...
