NEWS

Staysure branding on a golf course.
The Information

Staysure appoints media agency

Incumbent on the account was All Response Media.

S4 Capital founder Martin Sorrell (©GettyImages)
The Information

Martin Sorrell continues to fire shots

Now in his 9th decade, the S4 Capital founder is still ragging on WPP and thinks PR is just an extension of advertising that doesn’t need to exist on a standalone basis.

headshots
The Information

Movers & Shakers: WPP Media, Publicis, Hearst, OpenAI, Trade Desk and more

Welcome to Campaign's weekly round-up of the hires, departures and promotions across the industry.

Wayne Deakin
The Information

This if for Testing - Kindly ignore

Deakin worked at Wolff Olins for three years.

Knees with microphone

Holland & Barrett gives the body a voice in first work by Lucky Generals

“Back your body” features a choir of singing body parts.

Person praying with Coca-Cola can in hands

Coca-Cola World Cup spot explores emotional journey of football

“Uncanned emotions” was developed by WPP OpenX, led by Ogilvy Group and supported by WPP Production and WPP Media.

The Trade Desk: L-R Melinda Zurich, Ian Colley, Matthew Henick

Three executives depart amid ‘changing of the guard’ at The Trade Desk

TTD has confirmed three of its senior leaders have stepped down amidst a slew of changes, challenges and disruptions for the company.

Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella and Publicis Groupe boss Arthur Sadoun

Publicis wins Microsoft media account without a pitch as part of expanded partnership

Two companies “will leverage each other’s expertise to embed agentic AI”.

Promotional image for the fight between Tyson Fury and Arslanbek Makhmudovl.

Netflix names sponsors for first UK live boxing broadcast

Event will feature Tyson Fury coming out of retirement to fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov.

People running blindfolded
The Information

Private View: Tesco Mobile, M&S, KFC, Channel 4, McDonald's and Plenty

Creatives from VCCP and Uncommon Creative Studio critique a selection of the latest ads.

Uncovered creative leadership
The Information

Uncovered expands creative department and launches art and design arm

New recruits will report to executive creative director Mitch Syrett.

Headshot of Yannick Bolloré, chief executive and chairman at Havas.
The Information

Havas CEO Yannick Bolloré earned £6m in 2025

The chief executive received a base salary of £1.3m.

Irn-Bru

Irn-Bru Ice Cream flavour returns with social ads by Leith

Irn-Bru appointed Lucky Generals to creative account last year.

MPG logo.

Pippa Glucklich, David Wilding and more assemble Media Planning Group

Group is launching in partnership with Account Planning Group.

Collage of Rachel Forde, Jason Foo, Rob Smith, Niusha Koucheksarai and Richard Exon
The Information

Are some agencies seeing their people as debts rather than assets?

Campaign asks adland how much agencies value their talent.

OpenAI CMO Kate Rouch steps down

OpenAI CMO Kate Rouch steps down

Rouch joined OpenAI in 2025 from Coinbase and has previously held positions at Meta and The Bridgespan Group.

Wise poster

Wise’s debut work by Ace of Hearts features OOH for parody banks

The campaign includes a Transport for London takeover.

Kanye West

Wireless cancelled, drinks brands pull sponsorship after Kanye West backlash

Pepsi, Diageo and AB InBev's decision followed widespread criticism of the London festival's booking of West.

L-r: JvM Spree management team Franziska Spiess, Sven Rebholz and Jan Harbeck. Photo: Jung von Matt
The Information

Volkswagen appoints global social media agency

New agency won car brand's business after a multi-stage pitch.

Mallory Simmonds
The Information

Jungle Creations hires chief executive from Kepler

Mallory Simmonds replaces Melissa Chapman, who left in February.

Wingstop shop.
The Information

Wingstop launches UK media review

Ingenuity+ is assisting with the process. 

Ocean Outdoor winner TBWA\MCR Prost8 campaign

Ocean Outdoor: entries open for 2026 Digital Creative Competition

TBWA\MCR won the Grand Prix last year for its work with charity Prost8.

The Campaign Podcast artwork

Podcast: Why are in-house teams taking top talent from agencies?

ITV Creative's director Niki Garner joins The Campaign Podcast to discuss the evolving world of in-house agencies.

Pitch Update: (Clockwise from top left) BMW UK, White Claw, Vax and Microsoft
The Information

Pitch Update: Microsoft, BMW, Samsung, Vax, Savlon, Polestar, White Claw, Lovehoney and more

Campaign's weekly round-up of adland's latest account pitches, reviews and wins.

Still from Ladbrokes ad
The Information

Atomic London owed more than £5m when it went into administration

Creditors include the independent agency’s employees’ pensions and HMRC.

Microsoft store

Microsoft appoints global media agency

UK portion of the account is worth an estimated £34m.

Publicis Groupe and 160over90 logos

Publicis Groupe acquires 160over90 to “disrupt” sport sector

Campaign speaks to Arthur Sadoun, chief executive of Publicis Groupe, and Suzy Deering, CEO of Publicis Sports, about sports marketing being the network’s “next big bet”.

Damian Blackden

WPP Media’s global chief strategy officer retires

Damian Blackden leaves ad industry after 37 years in media.

Boy looks at various social media apps on his phone

Ofcom research finds rise in concern over online risks versus benefits

Findings published following landmark trial on the harms of Meta and YouTube.

A woman having dinner on holiday blissfully holds up a king prawn

Loveholidays makes TV debut with ITV sponsorship

Campaign comprises idents using puns from classic film titles.

Clockwise from top left: Bill Murphy and Laura Kinzett; Simon Richings; Alex Green and David Toussaint
The Information

Movers & Shakers: EssenceMediacom, Monks, Anomaly, Neverland, Dept, Born Social and more

Welcome to Campaign's weekly round-up of the hires, departures and promotions across the industry.

Picture of a teacher writing on a white board
The Information

Who topped the final UK media new-business rankings?

WPP Media, PHD and Publicis Groupe featured in the top three.

Photo of young people with skateboards from Barclays
The Information

Who topped the final UK creative new-business rankings?

VCCP, Lucky Generals and Omnicom Group featured in the top three.

Headshots of commentators
The Information

Is the future of production aligned with media rather than creative?

Campaign asks adland about production's place in advertising, after reporting Heineken’s global review aligns production with media, rather than creative.

Collage of KitKat, GDK, Greggs and Forest Bikes
The Information

Social highlights from KitKat, Domino's, Ryanair, Pringles and more

KitKat makes the most of a 12-tonne chocolate bar robbery, brands respond to an awkward McDonald’s burger review, and One Pound Fish Man returns to screens.

Simon Richings
The Information

We Are Social ECD departs for MSQ agency

Simon Richings had spent four years at We Are Social.

Bill Murphy with Laura Kinzett
The Information

Neverland hires head of strategy

Bill Murphy previously worked at Neverland on a freelance basis.

Collage of School Reports 2026v design

Decoding the class of ’26: the logic and craft behind the School Reports aesthetic

The conceptual breakthrough came from a bit of mathematical fate.

Campaign Ad Net Zero Awards

Entries open for Campaign Ad Net Zero Awards 2026

Release of new awards playbook aims to help entrants.

Thumbs up icons and rectangles showing content you'd expect to see on YouTube

WPP launches AI editor for media clients’ YouTube ads

New tools co-developed with Google as part of WPP’s $400m AI partnership with YouTube.

Vax vacuum cleaner
The Information

Vax launches £37m media review

Campaign understands multiple agencies are pitching for the account.

Image showing a collage of schooling-related visuals, such as a compass and computer

Campaign School Reports Tracker returns for 2026

The historical database shows how agencies have performed since 2011.

New Creators' Showcase 2026

Saatchis New Creators' Showcase swaps Cannes for SXSW London after 35 years

Showcase has taken place at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity since 1991.

April Fool's

April Fool’s Day round-up: Heinz, Lego, Tesco, Terry’s Chocolate Orange, Dyson and more

This year's April Fool's work features edible mugs, chocolate-holding phone cases and a giant egg.

Alex Green
The Information

Born Social appoints head of UK growth

Role will work with Croud’s chief growth officer, James Wilde, on shared pitches.

Omnicom chairman and CEO John Wren
The Information

Omnicom CEO John Wren earned $70m package in 2025

Wren reduced his salary to $1 in favour of stock options, but he will only profit on the amount that Omnicom’s share price rises above a key threshold.

The Forge
The Information

Fandom-focused creative agency The Forge launches

The shop aims to help brands “build relevance by understanding fandom as infrastructure, not subculture.”

Collage of stills from ads for British Airways, Guinness Zero, KFC and Mentos' Fizzooka
The Information

School Reports 2026: The most-read creative shops

Which creative agencies are readers most interested in this year?

Clockwise from top left: VodafoneThree, Tesco, Spotify and Andrex campaigns.
The Information

School Reports 2026: The most-read media agencies

Which media agencies are readers most interested in this year?

March global indie rankings
The Knowledge

US shops dominate first indie league of 2026

Only one UK-based agency made the top 20.

The Campaign Podcast artwork

Podcast: How can an agency score a 9 in Campaign’s School Reports?

Campaign's editorial team discuss this year's School Reports and what goes into a top score on The Campaign Podcast.

Collage of Jon Forsyth, Luke Smith, Esther Carder, Richard Robinson, Nicole Yershon, Ivan Fernandes, Claire Enders, Paul Phelps and Jennifer Black
The Information

Is Cindy Rose right to link bonuses to WPP’s overall performance?

As part of her new strategy for WPP, Cindy Rose has changed the incentive scheme structure at the company.

Dentsu CEO Takeshi Sano
The Information

“Client-centricity is our new mantra”: new Dentsu CEO delivers first address to staff

Takeshi Sano pledges execution-led transformation, as the group tackles a sweeping international overhaul.

OpenAI is trialling ads on ChatGPT

OpenAI’s ChatGPT Ads trial surpasses $100m in six weeks

The ongoing pilot gives advertisers the ability to invest in the format.

David Toussaint
The Information

Anomaly raids Grey for first European head of comms strategy

David Toussaint was previously global head of strategy and creative communications strategy for The Coca-Cola Company at Grey.

Serviceplan Group UK team standing together
The Information

Serviceplan Group UK hires social team from Atomic London

The four appointments follow a “growing client demand for social and creator expertise”.

Elon Musk in front of huge X logo (©GettyImages)

X advertiser boycott lawsuit dismissed

The case claimed brands including Unilever and Mars and the WFA had worked together to withhold advertising on the platform.

A hot cross bun backlit by the image of a rising sun
The Information

Morrisons TV ad for hot cross buns to air in LHF watershed

Campaign was created by Leo UK in partnership with Zenith UK.

Two bottles of Covonia cough mixture stand either side of the text "take charge" surrounded by horns. The Covonia logo is a bull.
The Information

Covonia and Savlon owner kicks off UK media review

Stada Thornton & Ross issues request for information.

Clockwise from top left: Work from Joint, The Specialist Works,Lucky Generals and Initiative.
The Information

School Reports 2026: Which agencies improved their marks?

In total, 22 agencies improved their School Reports score this year.

Advertising Week Europe (©BronacMcNeill.com)

Ian Russell challenges Instagram boss to “chat” at Cannes Lions

Russell spoke during a panel discussion on social media harm at Advertising Week Europe yesterday.

Spotify listening lounge

Spotify opens listening room in London for top 1% of fans

“Spotify Listening Lounge” is a lossless audio space designed by Cake Architecture and sound system by Friendly Pressure.

School reports "SR 26" red branding frames a black and white image of a Tesco clubcard ad showing a man and a woman with inflatable pool toys
The Information

School Reports: EssenceMediacom suffers biggest billings percentage drop in top 10 media shops

Just two agencies in Nielsen’s top 10 reported year-on-year growth in billings.

BMW car
The Information

BMW UK reviews £5m CRM and digital accounts

Review includes retailer marketing, websites and point of sale display.

Clockwise from top left: Boots, Netflix, Royal British Legion and RNIB
The Information

Pitch Update: Unilever, Boots, Netflix, IBM, Polestar, Onken, Lastminute.com and more

Campaign's weekly round-up of adland's latest account pitches, reviews and wins.

Royal British Legion's 2025 Remembrance Day campaign, created by Leagas Delaney
The Information

Royal British Legion reviews creative agency relationships

Havas CX Helia is the incumbent on the fundraising account and Leagas Delaney is the incumbent on the brand advertising account.

Polestar car
The Information

Polestar launches global media review

Campaign understands Dentsu X is the incumbent in the UK.

Clockwise from top left: Sarah Nugent, Dara Nasr, Louise Lang and Emiliano González De Pietri
The Information

Movers & Shakers: WPP, McCann, T&P, UM, Feral, Allwyn, Global, Channel 4 and more

Welcome to Campaign's weekly round-up of the hires, departures and promotions across the industry.

Winners of the Pride of Britain Awards stand on stage showered by confetti.

Reach launches events and experiential division

New division to build on publisher’s Pride of Britain and Pride of Scotland Awards

James Cornish and Ben Brown on stage

Allwyn's media director: in-house shop Studio 59 aiming for “newsroom mentality”

Ben Brown, media director at Allwyn, spoke at Advertising Week Europe on 24 March.