The Campaign 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.

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.

Campaign releases an unpublished recording from the inaugural Campaign Live conference last year. Unilever's former chief marketing officer Keith Weed and chief financial officer Graeme Pitkethly are interviewed on stage by Campaign’s editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier. They discuss how to keep the peace in the infamously tense CMO and CFO relationship that they said requires "mutual respect" from both sides. Weed says: "If you can create a good atmosphere between the CFO and the CMO, it creates a good atmosphere in the company."Coming up in the campaign calendar:Campaign LiveThe In-House Agency Awards Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is the summer of women’s sport, or ‘simply sport’ as Campaign's deputy editor Gemma Charles put it, and records are being broken both on and off the pitch.The Women’s Euro’s, which was viewed by 16.2 million people during the final, has been touted as the most commercially successful football tournament ever — women’s or men’s — with 30,000 more ads per day than last year’s men’s tournament. The women’s rugby world cup takes place this month and has targeted viewing hours of 50 million versus just under 18 million in 2021, but the board expect it to be nearer 100 million.In this episode, the Campaign team is joined by Laura Weston, co-founder of sports consultancy See You At Jeanies and a member of the board of trustees for Liverpool FC. Alongside Campaign's deputy editor Gemma Charles and Campaign Red's data journalist Jamie Rossouw, they discuss what’s next for women’s sport and its sponsorships, the gaps that still exist and ask if this is the moment that brands finally get on board.This episode is hosted by Campaign's tech editor Lucy Shelley.Further reading:Women’s sport is the greatest growth opportunity for the sports industry.Roundup: How brands are celebrating England’s Euros winHow soon before brands build their own women’s football teams?Women’s Euro 2025 round-up: Watch the adsTesco “Receipts” by BBH LondonSports Direct Women's Euros ad enlists stars for park football matchBBC creates stop-motion ad for Uefa Women’s Euro 2025BBC "Names will be made" by BBC CreativeITV's Uefa Women’s Euros film travels through history of women’s footballMaking sports ads interesting again Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The long-term row between independent production companies and those that sit within holding companies has resurfaced in recent weeks over best practice when it comes to bidding and being selected for work. Production craft festival Ciclope ended its sponsorship contracts with holding companies, which began an online debate between the Advertising Producers Association and the IPA on LinkedIn. The APA’s chief executive Steve Davies suggested a forum to establish best practice in bidding, while the IPA’s head of production, Eliot Liss, said “There is no need for an industry forum of the type the APA are suggesting”. He added “we don’t accept there is an issue with transparency or propriety in how IPA members are providing their production services to clients.” In this episode, Campaign's editorial team dig deeper into the debate, what has been leading up to it and question whether independent and in-house production companies can co-exist alongside each other.Tech editor Lucy Shelley hosts the episode with Campaign's editor Maisie McCabe, creativity and culture editor Gurjit Degun and deputy creativity and culture editor Charlotte Rawlings. Further reading:APA: Brands 'won't be content' with IPA rejection of forum for production company biddingIPA rejects APA's call for best practice forum for production company biddingAPA launches initiative to bring brands and production companies togetherAPA report finds agencies withhold production partners information from brandsIPA ‘takes exception to the erroneous idea of gatekeeping’ in APA reportIPA, APA and ISBA launch Production Pitch Process InitiativeDoes Rattling Stick’s low-cost arm signal trouble in the production sector?Lights, camera, action: how production companies are fighting back Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WPP announced this month that Microsoft executive Cindy Rose will succeed outgoing chief executive Mark Read. Rose is currently chief operating officer, global enterprise, at Microsoft and will be WPP’s third CEO and the first female leader of a major agency holding company. The announcement, which came sooner than expected, came one day after the holding company issued a shock profit warning to the stock market, and follows major losses for WPP including the Mars account and a portion of the Coca-Cola business.Analysts have responded to the appointment saying that the Rose era “has to be transformational” and “WPP knows it needs a reboot”.In this episode, the Campaign editorial team will discuss the reaction to Rose’s appointment, what WPP needs from its new CEO, or whether WPP is “too far gone” as former CEO Sir Martin Sorrel has suggested. The chat features Campaign’s editor in chief Gideon Spanier, editor Maisie McCabe and deputy media editor Shauna Lewis. The episode is hosted by tech editor Lucy Shelley.Coming up in the Campaign calendar:Campaign LiveCampaign Big AwardsFurther reading:What can new CEO Cindy Rose bring to WPP and what does it need?Accenture and WPP have discussed potential M&A dealWPP's 'pretty grim' profit warning: stock market analysts reactWPP closes in on new CEO as some big names ruled out Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three awards have been withdrawn from Cannes Lions 2025 over fabrication of case studies and concerns around their legitimacy. In the weeks that have followed Cannes Festival of Creativity, the integrity of advertising awards has been questioned and what was once widely accepted in advertising awards, has now been exposed.DM9's “Efficient way to pay” was the most notable withdrawal as it won the Grand Prix in the Creative Data Lions. The DDB agency was caught using AI to fabricate news coverage in the case study and misleading the jury. Two other DM9 awards were also withdrawn. The agency’s co-president and CCO Icaro Doria stepped down. Following the Cannes news, D&AD removed two pencils from the shop.However, DM9 were not alone in the scandal as other awards have also since been questioned.While the industry has been rocked by the news, many have acknowledged that embellishment, exaggeration and fabrication within awards entries is a common occurrence within adland. This episode features Campaign editor Maisie McCabe, deputy editor Gemma Charles and creativity and culture editor Gurjit Degun, who discuss what has led to this behaviour and what happens next for awards.Cannes Lions has since responded with new "integrity standards" to ban agencies that submit "wilfully false" campaignsThis episode was hosted by Campaign's tech editor Lucy Shelley.Further reading:Adland’s ‘New Year's’ resolution should be to revive its integrity at Cannes LionsLePub takes disciplinary action following scrutiny of Cannes Lion-winning campaignHavas Costa Rica’s Cannes Lions-winning ad, Lessons of Shame, needs lessons of legitimacyHavas and World Vision’s Lessons of Shame under scrutiny after Cannes Lions winDon’t hate the player, hate the gameCannes Lions rocked by controversies over AI, authenticity and licensingDM9 admits faults in case study for Grand Prix-winning work Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As 2025's Pride Month comes to a close, Campaign reflects on how the global DEI rollback has impacted the way brands show up for LGBTQIA+ communities.Gay Times' chief executive Tag Warner said the news outlet has lost £5m in ad revenue this year due to eight of its top ten advertisers pulling their contracts, and Thinkbox's head of marketing Chris Dunne, who is also chief executive of Outvertising, also commented on the noticeable drawback by brands. While it might on the surface seem like the changes to DEI this year have impacted brands' support for LGBTQ+ communities, the drawback actually begun years before, and this year was more a "nail in the coffin".Hosted by tech editor Lucy Shelley, Campaign's media editor Beau Jackson and deputy creativity and culture editor Charlotte Rawlings discuss what has led to brands stepping back, as well as highlighting some of the work that continues to celebrate Pride and raise awareness to wider LGBTQ+ issues. This includes TransActual UK's "Third toilet" by BBH London, Tesco's internal policies and sponsorship of Pride, Lush donating 75% of profits from the Liberation bath bomb and Marks and Spencer's partnership with AKT.Further reading:Pride needs action, not alliesAmnesty Pride campaign promotes bracelets as 'badge of allyship'E45 unveils ad highlighting trans skin that won C4 diversity awardDo LGBTQ+ PR pros think brands will ‘show up’ for Pride 2025? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Campaign asked this year’s A List cohort to name their favourite TV ad ahead of the upcoming 70th anniversary of commercial television. Guinness “Surfer” by AMV BBDO came out top.One trend that emerged from the choices was that many of the most popular ads were more than 25 years old. Armed with this finding, Campaign reporter Eszter Gurbicz wrote a feature exploring the industry’s love of old ads.This episode of the Campaign Podcast dissects the qualities that make ads stick in peoples’ minds and shares the industry’s view on whether there is any recent work that will be talked about in years to come.Deputy editor Gemma Charles hosts the episode which features editor Maisie McCabe and creativity and culture editor Gurjit Degun alongside Gurbicz.Further reading:A Listers on their favourite TV ads of all timeAre we at the start of a new era of advertising awards?Channel 4 and L’Oreal Paris scoop Film Lions Grands PrixMy Campaign: the making of Guinness ‘Surfer’Ads mentioned in the show include:The Martin Agency's Quiznos subs’ rats (chosen by Mother's Felix Richter) DDB Chicago's Bud Light "Real men of genius: really bad toupee wearer" (chosen by TheOr's Charlene Chandrasekaran)AMV BBDO's Guinness "Dreamer" BBH London's "Three little pigs" for The Guardian Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Group M, the world's largest media buying group, has undergone a titanic course correction and "simplification", re-emerging as WPP Media. While the destination "makes sense", according to Campaign's editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier, the reorganisation is coming at a huge cost to those that work there.In February this year, The Campaign Podcast asked 'What is Group M?' and in the three months since, the group has merged agency brands into a single P&L, got rid of agency specific jobs titles and begun making roles redundant around the world. More recently, WPP's chief executive Mark Read announced on Monday (9 June) he was stepping down.In this episode, Campaign's editorial team ask a simple question and dig deeper into why WPP has made the change, what will happen to the individual agencies within it, and whether it really is "simpler".Tech editor Lucy Shelley hosts the episode which features Spanier alongside media editor Beau Jackson and deputy media editor Shauna Lewis.Further reading:‘Something’s gone horribly wrong’: new chair faces calls to ‘fix’ WPP at AGMWPP launches data solution Open Intelligence'We know that we have to be simpler': Brian Lesser lays out Group M plansGroup M axes global agency CEO roles in major centralisation push Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity 2025 is only a few weeks away. With the prejudging completed last week, Campaign speaks to three jurors on what they're expecting this year at Cannes and what purpose the festival serves in a year of economic turbulence.Tech editor Lucy Shelley speaks to Kate Stanners, president of the Film Lions and global chief creative officer and chair of Saatchi & Saatchi; Dan Clays, president of the Media Lions and chief executive officer EMEA at Omnicom Media Group and Noel Bunting, juror on Digital Craft Lions and chief creative officer at Publicis London.The judging trio talk about the importance of instinct, why Cannes serves as a reminder of the "art of the possible" and how the connection between creativity and technology is used to hack the algorithm in advertising. Further reading:Should Cannes Lions be more focused on practical business solutions?Arthur Sadoun calls for ‘different approach’ at Cannes amid economic challengesApple named Cannes Lions Creative Marketer of the YearCampaign announces agenda for debut of Campaign House at Cannes Lions 2025Cannes Lions introduces safe zones'Rewarding work while accepting suffering': IPA, D&AD and Cannes Lions respond Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

VCCP London’s chief executive Andrew Peake is the special guest in the studio, joining Campaign’s creativity and culture editor Gurjit Degun, deputy editor Gemma Charles and features editor Matt Barker.Andrew explains why VCCP are moving out of their home in London’s Victoria after 23 years and heading over to Fitzrovia, prompting a conversation among the quartet around the role that offices – and crucially, office cultures – have to play in attracting talent.That then leads to further chat about socio-economic factors, career development and other motivating factors that come into play when choosing to work for a particular agency. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Campaign hosted its star event Media360 in Brighton this week, gathering together leaders from UK media agencies, owners and businesses to discuss and question where media is headed in 2025.Hosted by the chief executives of Essencemediacom and Hearts & Science, Natalie Cummins and Garrett O’Rielly, the two days covered connecting with gen Z, what to do about AI and urged advertisers to support trusted journalism. Jamie Laing opened the conference in the hot seat questioned by Campaign editor Maisie McCabe.In this bonus episode you will hear a session from the event which questions whether social media is killing TV, hosted by Debatemate. Before we get to it, tech editor Lucy Shelley is joined by media editor Beau Jackson to chat through a few highlights from the two days.Further reading:Media 360: Lloyds Banking Group’s marketing lead on breaking ground in gamingMedia 360: Marketers from Currys, Reckitt and Estée Lauder on how media drives growthMedia 360: Jamie Laing on why brands should 'always have a North Star' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of The Campaign Podcast, Charlotte Rawlings, deputy creativity and culture editor at Campaign, chats to four of the industry’s top creatives about some recent ads. Rawlings is joined by Laura Rogers, executive creative director at AMV BBDO; Jonny Parker and Chris Birch, joint chief creative officers at VCCP; and Caitlin Ryan, creative partner at Dentsu Creative. The creatives discuss the longevity of brand mascots, their favourite type of crumpets and how the PG Tips Monkey has transformed into a loving husband.Listen to their opinions on British Gas, Warburtons, KFC and more. Further reading: PG Tips brings back Monkey in campaign featuring Emily AtackBritish Gas launches brand platform with cosy charactersOlivia Colman takes crumpet duty seriously in Warburtons campaignWarburtons radio ads feature Olivia Colman denying 'crumpet heist'KFC spot launches burger with cult-like dinner ceremonyConfused.com spot turns people into helium-filled inflatables Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The darker side of agency life reveals that burnout is still an issue in advertising. Adland is infamously known for late night calls, weekend pitch prep and a culture of long working hours being the norm. Four years ago Campaign launched an investigation into the darker side of agency work and in this year’s follow up, it seems little progress has been made.This week is Mental Health Awareness week, and in this episode Campaign speaks to Sue Todd, chief executive at advertising and media charity Nabs, and David Eakins, former art director and now mental health campaigner and founder of workplace wellbeing agency Happy Sapien.Hosted by tech editor Lucy Shelley, Campaign's editor Maisie McCabe also joins the discussion. They explore why adland has not solved the issue of burnout and what can be done to protect its people.Content warning: this episode contains references to suicide. If you have been affected by issues raised in this episode and need a number to call, you can reach Nabs at 0800 707 6607, Calm on 0800 1111 or Samaritans on 116 123. Further reading:An open letter to the gatekeepers of creative greatnessNabs helpline calls reach annual record of 5200Why hasn’t adland tackled its long-hours culture?Does adland wish it was ‘Severed’?Coming up in the Campaign calendar:Campaign LiveCampaign Big Awards Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Live experiences couldn't get more real. They provide consumers with a tangible connection to a brand. But in an era of declining third spaces, consumers need to be wowed if they are to venture out their homes to attend an event.Louisa O'Conner if the founder and managing director of experiential agency Seen Presents. She joins the podcast to discuss the change in consumer behaviour, why consumers generally prefer grassroots events to premium and how the pressure put on live experiences makes them feel like the ultimate wedding.Hosted by Campaign's tech editor Lucy Shelley, this episode also features deputy creativity and culture editor Charlotte Rawlings.Further reading:The experiential antidote to Gen Z’s dying third placeUK firms cut marketing budgets for first time in four years: IPA Bellwether‘A tough start to the year’: IPA Bellwether adland reaction Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Women in creative leadership roles have been leaving adland. The IPA Census reported a decline in both of the last two years, down from 30% in 2022 to 25.6% in 2024. On top of this, the Census reported a widening pay gap, increasing to almost 20% in 2024.This episode welcomes Laura Jordan Bambach to the studio, founder and chief creative officer of female founded Uncharted. Alongside editor Maisie McCabe and deputy creativity and culture editor Charlotte Rawlings, they discuss why it’s got worse, if there was any improvement seen in the first place and what needs to be done to amend the issue.Jordan Bambach, who launched The Great British Diversity Experiment nine years ago, explained that when agencies feel under pressure from economic and other external storms, they return to "muscle memory", and rely on behaviours of the past. The industry needs to reframe what it is to be a successful creative leader and adjust perceptions, she said. This episode was hosted by tech editor Lucy Shelley.Further reading: I can’t believe I still have to write columns about this shitUnder-appreciated, overlooked and misunderstood: the life of a female creative3 great ads I had nothing to do with – #68 with Laura Jordan BambachMy Cannes Snapshot: Laura Jordan BambachLaura Jordan Bambach, Hannah Matthews and Fern Miller unveil 'advanced' creative agency Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, the greats of UK media gathered in London to celebrate the Campaign Media Awards 2025. The coveted Commercial Team of the Year award went to LADbible while Spark Foundry’s Mondelez Team took home Agency Team of the Year.The winning Campaign of the Year was awarded to PHD and "Stream of (un)consciousness" for the British Heart Foundation. The gaming campaign worked with Twitch creators, interrupting their streams to teach viewers how to do CPR, and the results were powerful, with someone’s life being saved after a viewer saw one streamer’s CPR segment. Judges said they couldn’t “wish or hope for more for a client in this sector.”In this bonus episode we are chatting to the brains behind the campaign, Tess Gullis, gaming business director at PHD. We discuss how the campaign is successful in its simplicity, the misconceptions that still exist from advertisers and answer why brands are overcomplicating gaming.Hosted by Campaign tech editor Lucy Shelley, this episode also features deputy media editor Shauna Lewis.View all the winners here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In February this year, the UK government published a consultation on AI, proposing a change to current copyright legislation. It would allow tech companies to use creative works including film, TV and original journalism to train AI models without permission of the creators, unless they have opted out.It was met with harsh criticism, rallying "Make it fair" campaigns and rejections from both creatives and tech platforms alike, albeit for opposite reasons. Google and OpenAI responded to the consultation saying that it would cause developers to "deprioritise the market" and that "training on the open web must be free" while creative industries including Alex Mahon, chief executive of Channel 4, said that the lack of transparency and compensation would "scrape the value" from quality content.Campaign questions if UK regulation will harm creative industries and how it will impact the country’s own advancements in AI. This episode welcomes guest Michael Horn, global head of AI at Omnicom Advertising Group. Hosted by tech editor Lucy Shelley, the Campaign team includes creativty and culture editor Alessandra Scotto di Santolo and deputy media editor Shauna Lewis.This episode includes an excerpt from Mahon's speech in Parliament where she addresses her concerns.Further reading:Mark Read: 'AI will unlock adland's productivity challenge'AI, copyright and the creative economy: the debate we can't afford to lose Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What links McDonald's "Iconic needs no explanation" by Leo Burnett, KFC's gravy take over of the BFI and Kellogg's "See you in the morning" also by Leo Burnett? These three ads are the latest in a line of out-of-home posters that zoom in on products, alter or remove logos and have minimal text. Tesco, Heinz and B&Q have also created similar ads.While this might be a trend, it certainly isn't new. A 1990 Silk Cut ad "Slash" by Saatchi & Saatchi also had a similar minimalist style and more recently in 2023, Barbie released an entirely pink billboard with only "July 21" in the corner to promote the release of the film.Campaign's editorial team discuss if original ideas still exist in outdoor ads and if all the good ideas have been taken. Hosted by tech editor Lucy Shelley, this episode features editor Maisie McCabe, creativity and culture editor Alessandra Scotto di Santolo and deputy creativity and culture editor Charlotte Rawlings.Further reading:Is the art of out-of-home copywriting under threat?Playing with the logo is nothing new; but it might signal a return to intelligent advertisingThe distinctive asset in the room Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.