CMO Pulse News and Headlines
CMO Pulse News and Headlines
JOY announced nine new hires—including activation directors, coordinators, a manager, a business director, and an activation executive—following recent wins in the automotive and sports apparel sectors. The appointments are designed to reinforce the agency’s integrated growth model that spans strategy, planning, and performance media. CEO Peter Horgan emphasized that the expanded talent pool will enable JOY to deliver measurable commercial impact and accelerate client growth. The hires reflect a broader push to combine strategic insight with execution precision.
Harvey Norman has become New Zealand’s biggest advertiser in 2025, overtaking Foodstuffs NZ. Retail led ad spend with $675.4 million, outpacing leisure and food categories. Telecommunications saw the strongest year‑on‑year growth, adding $41.8 million (25 %) to reach $206.8 million. The Nielsen report highlights shifting budgets...
The Australian Retail Council (ARC) has been launched as a new national peak body, merging the Australian Retailers Association and the National Retail Association. Developed with branding agency FABRIC, ARC’s new visual identity aims to give retailers a single, unified...
Integrated land‑lease developer Millbray has hired brand studio Bullet and digital product studio Wonderful to revamp its master brand and launch a new digital platform ahead of the Ashcroft over‑50s community debut in Queensland. Bullet delivered the brand strategy, naming,...
RSPCA Australia has rebranded its farm‑animal welfare program from the 17‑year‑old RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme to the new RSPCA Certified label. The refresh, driven by strategic firm Nature and creative agency The Thrills, introduces a streamlined brand architecture, a distinctive...
Jessica Allison has left Thinkerbell Aotearoa after nearly two years as General Manager. She joined the agency in April 2024, bringing senior experience from Herd MSL, Publicis Groupe NZ and Mango Melbourne. During her tenure she instituted new structures, processes and a rigor...
USAA announced the appointment of Chris Curtin, former CMO of Sam’s Club, as its new chief marketing officer, bringing experience from Bank of America, Visa, HP and Disney. Hemlo Mining named Jason Banducci as vice president of corporate development and investor...
Mercedes‑Benz USA teamed with Amazon Ads to launch a series of custom creative spots that aired during Prime Video’s NBA broadcasts in January and February, featuring Dirk Nowitzki showcasing GLS features. The campaign targets younger, diversified luxury buyers by leveraging live‑sports...
Papa Johns will embed an AI‑powered ordering agent in its mobile app in Q2 2026, enabling voice and group ordering while streamlining re‑orders for Papa Rewards members. The loyalty program now touches roughly 41 million fans and drives 2.5 times more orders than...
Criteo has become the first advertising‑technology partner in OpenAI’s ChatGPT Free and Go advertising pilot in the United States. The integration lets brands run Criteo‑powered ads directly within the ChatGPT interface, leveraging the platform’s commerce‑focused AI decisioning. Early data shows...
Home Centre’s Ramadan campaign leveraged three gamified hero films to transform passive viewers into active participants, delivering a 595% surge in comment activity compared with the previous year. The social‑first rollout across Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and other channels reached 70% of...
Charlotte Tilbury has hired Jerome LeLoup, former Rabanne Brand VP, as its Chief Marketing Officer effective March 2. LeLoup spent 13 years at Puig, rising from General Manager of Premium & Niche Brands to Brand VP of Rabanne. He will lead...
Taboola announced Krishan Bhatia as its first chief business officer, tasked with leading global sales and partnerships. Bhatia previously built Amazon’s global video‑advertising business and led NBCUniversal’s digital advertising division. He will oversee the Realize performance‑advertising platform, CTV, generative‑AI products...
Indonesia’s $102 billion CPG sector is feeling a squeeze: volume grew 6% while value rose only 3%, and net‑profit margins fell 64 basis points. Portfolio values dropped 14.5% against a market index gain of 12.7%, highlighting a widening inflation gap. Marketers...
Sun & Sand Sports launched the “Ready Starts Here” campaign in early 2026, syncing with Dubai’s Fitness Challenge to motivate everyday athletes. The initiative combined a hero film, in‑store experiences at Mall of the Emirates and Kite Beach, and a...
Merrell is celebrating its 45th anniversary by unveiling the global brand platform “It Starts Outside,” which reframes outdoor activity as everyday and inclusive. The campaign, produced with Uncommon Creative Studio, features short vignettes starring Olympian Alexi Pappas and visually‑impaired marathoner...
foodpanda has unveiled a new brand platform called “Make Life Delicious” in partnership with agency GUT Asia. The campaign, directed by Henry Scholfield, features the brand’s mascot Pau Pau in a series of five short films that showcase foodpanda as a...
Samir Singh, Executive Vice President for Marketing, APAC at Colgate‑Palmolive, has been appointed President of the Grand Executive Jury for the 2026 Asia Pacific Tambuli Awards. The awards, organized by the University of Asia and the Pacific School of Media...
Retail media platform Zitcha has appointed former Meta client partner Phil Bonanno as its APAC commercial director, based in Melbourne. Bonanno brings more than 11 years of experience developing insight‑driven retail advertising strategies at Meta, where he worked closely with...
THE SHOUT GROUP and Tropicana Twister are relaunching the award‑winning “Multiply the Goodness” campaign for Ramadan and Raya, scaling it from a seasonal kindness drive to a lasting social‑impact platform. This year the focus shifts to Project 100, a partnership with Epic...
Bunnings’ marketing chief Justine Mills and CommBank’s Jo Boundy discussed the disruptive potential of retail media during B&T’s CMO Power List interview. They highlighted how Hammer Media reshapes supplier‑to‑consumer engagement and how Bunnings is now acting as a publisher, leveraging...
Digital growth consultancy TAG announced it has secured Australian skincare brand Skin Control as a new client, expanding its portfolio that already includes MYOB, Modibodi, Morgans, Australian Unity and Nala. The partnership tasks TAG with overseeing strategy, marketing and technology...
NAB unveiled its latest Home Lending campaign under the "Your Partner at Every Stage" platform, reinforcing the bank’s "More than Money" promise that banking is a partnership, not just a transaction. The campaign uses a stage metaphor to illustrate support...
Mars Australia’s DINE brand partnered with Amazon Ads and EssenceMediacom to launch the AI‑driven “Cat Decoder” campaign, letting cat owners upload photos and receive personalized video translations of their pets. The full‑funnel activation spanned Amazon’s canvas—including Prime Video and the...
International entertainment consultancy Anthem announced the appointment of Phil Day as Executive Director, Strategy and Ben Birchall as Executive Director, Brand. Both bring roughly two decades of experience in music, theatre, live entertainment and advertising, respectively. Their roles unify strategy,...
QBE Insurance marks 40 years with the Sydney Swans, one of the longest-running sports sponsorships in Australia. To celebrate, The Core Agency rolled out an integrated campaign featuring out‑of‑home billboards, a digital video series and season‑long online activations. The partnership...
Yo‑Chi, the Gen Z‑focused snack brand, has partnered with Victoria’s Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) and creative agency Snack Drawer to launch “my‑Chi Monday.” The eight‑week campaign runs until 23 March, offering Youth myki holders a 20% discount on Yo‑Chi purchases every Monday. The...
Newcastle Permanent launched a new creative platform called “Head and Heart Approved,” developed by indie agency Enigma. The campaign visualizes the tension between rational and emotional decision‑making, positioning the bank as a choice both the head and heart can agree...
India’s leading restaurant operators are pivoting back to dine‑in by launching exclusive dishes, app‑only discounts and weekday coupons, aiming to revive footfall after years of delivery dominance. Chains such as Jubilant FoodWorks, Devyani International, Restaurant Brands Asia and Speciality Restaurants...
Boot Barn announced its debut sponsorship of the Stagecoach country‑music festival, serving as the official boot retailer and presenting sponsor of the new Mustang Stage. The partnership includes on‑site activations, custom giveaways, and a pre‑festival in‑store loyalty event at its...
Truvista Fiber announced that Michelle Harvey will serve as its new vice president of marketing. The appointment comes as the regional broadband provider accelerates fiber rollout across South Carolina and Georgia. Harvey will steer brand strategy, digital and traditional channels,...
DemandScience has partnered with HG Insights and GTM Fabric to launch a Winnable Account System that enriches Ideal Customer Profiles with technographic, spend, competitive and buyer‑research intelligence. The collaboration introduces two new products—Propensity‑Based Audience Activation and In‑Market Buyer Activation—that score...
KITH announced that CEO Stephanie Craig, who joined the firm in 2021, has taken ownership from founder Bill Coletti, solidifying her leadership after launching the CrisisResilient 365 diagnostic platform. Meanwhile, Stagwell’s Marketing Cloud expanded its Agent Cloud platform with new AI partners—including...
Progressive launched the "Drive Like an Animal" ad using AI‑generated animal drivers while retaining Flo’s voice, aiming to blend efficiency with brand authenticity. The AI approach slashed production time and budget, allowing the campaign to meet a tight deadline for...
Neverland announced that Laura Kinzett has been promoted to Chief Strategy Officer, succeeding Lola Neves. Kinzett, who previously led the agency’s planning department, will now steer brand‑building and client‑growth initiatives. The move reflects Neverland’s focus on data‑driven strategy as it...
PepsiCo’s global marketing effectiveness lead, Sorin Patilinet, cautions that the proliferation of AI tools will not automatically grant a competitive edge. While AI can generate endless creative variations, the true differentiator will be human judgment and disciplined restraint in campaign...
MiFinity has launched MiRewards, a premium loyalty program embedded in its eWallet, allowing customers to earn MiPoints on everyday transactions. The free‑to‑join scheme features four tiers—Classic, Exclusive, Signature and Elite—with higher tiers delivering accelerated earn rates and VIP support. Built...
Volt Agency, a Wix‑focused web design firm, published a report detailing hyper‑personalisation strategies on the Wix platform. The study claims conversion lifts of up to 60% and revenue gains of roughly 40% when businesses shift from static sites to intent‑driven...
Evereden, the kid‑focused beauty brand that hit $100 million in sales, announced its Generation E program, granting equity stakes to three Gen‑Alpha creators aged 14, 15 and 17. The teenagers—Embreigh Courtlyn, Kaili Asa and Madison Rae—bring combined millions of followers and will...
Gymboree is reviving its brand by launching co‑branded collections, beginning with a limited‑edition Marchesa line priced between $20 and $170. The retailer also introduced everyday collaborations with Peter Rabbit and Hello Kitty, aiming to attract both special‑occasion and casual shoppers....
V‑Guard’s "Hum Tum Aur V‑Guard" campaign turned summer into a romantic backdrop, positioning the brand as an invisible enabler of comfort across AC stabilisers, smart inverters, air coolers and fans. The strategy relied on a series of micro‑moment films that...
Farizon Auto, part of Geely Holding Group, has launched the all‑new Farizon SV electric commercial van in Australia through Jameel Motors, backed by Traffic’s integrated "Vantastic" campaign. The SV targets trades, fleet operators and last‑mile delivery services, offering electric performance...
Home Credit India launched #KahoEMIKoHaan, a Holi‑themed brand campaign that reframes credit decisions from hesitation to confidence. The musical film depicts everyday Indians pausing over EMI choices and then embracing aspirations with Home Credit’s financing solutions. The initiative highlights the...
Victoria Bitter (VB) has introduced VB Mid, a 3.5% ABV beer, accompanied by a new television campaign voiced by Australian actor William McInnes. The launch follows VB’s 2023 VX effort and targets the fast‑growing low‑ and mid‑strength segment, which now accounts...
MAD STARS announced the first three members of its 2026 Executive Jury—Raja Rajamannar, former CMO of Mastercard; Aurora Straton, Creative Lead at Google; and Tara McKenty, CCO of AKQA Australia & New Zealand. The trio will oversee the final judging rounds and select the...
Tools for Humanity, the iris‑scanning startup co‑founded by Sam Altman, is rolling out its World ID platform with high‑profile brand partners. A Gap store in San Francisco now hosts an Orb device that captures facial and eye data, while Tinder...
Publicis Groupe Australia & New Zealand’s Chief Creative Officer Dave Bowman has been appointed to the 2026 New York Festivals Advertising Awards Executive Jury. The jury, led by Andrea Diquez of GUT, comprises 15 top creative leaders from agencies and...
Culinary Creative Group announced a leadership overhaul, naming Richard Flaherty as CEO, Blake Edmunds as culinary director, and Lauren Barash as its first vice president of marketing. Flaherty, former CEO of Punch Bowl Social and Wagamama USA, will steer national...
Sofa Club, the online furniture retailer, has appointed Stephanie Rackley as its group marketing director. Rackley previously served as a marketing consultant and social media strategist at Caroline Gardner, and held senior roles at Medik8, Bare Minerals and Champneys. In...
Omnicom Group announced its merger with Interpublic (IPG), creating a larger advertising conglomerate but triggering thousands of job cuts. The combined firm’s 10‑K highlights significant integration risks, including talent uncertainty, higher‑than‑expected costs, and possible loss of clients and vendors. Management...
