Latest Marketing & Advertising News
Authentic Brands Group partners with Google Cloud to build AI‑driven ‘Authentic Intelligence’
Authentic Brands Group has formed a strategic partnership with Google Cloud, adopting Gemini and Vertex AI to power a proprietary platform called **Authentic Intelligence**. The AI system is used weekly by about 80% of employees and has helped Reebok ad creative achieve up to **60% higher return on ad spend (ROAS)** versus traditional imagery.
Recess reframes ‘Dry January’ with moderation‑focused, omnichannel campaign
Functional beverage brand **Recess** is launching a campaign that promotes balance rather than total abstinence during Dry January, reflecting shifting consumer attitudes toward alcohol moderation. The effort spans print, out‑of‑home, influencer activations and other digital channels, positioning Recess as a lifestyle brand for mindful drinking.
Puma appoints new senior global brand marketer amid major reorganization
Sportswear brand **Puma** has named Nadia Kokni as its new senior global brand marketer following a broader restructuring that consolidates key marketing and product functions under a chief brand officer. The move aims to sharpen global brand positioning and improve integration between product and marketing as the company seeks to revive growth.
Mondelēz to review U.S. creative accounts after hiring new marketing executive
**Mondelēz International** plans a U.S. creative review following the arrival of a new senior marketing leader, potentially reshaping agency relationships on major brands like Oreo and Ritz. The Martin Agency has handled Ritz and Oreo’s Super Bowl work for the past three years, including an upcoming Big Game spot for Ritz that could be affected by the review.
Pizza Hut and Tom Brady launch live NFL stunt to promote ‘pizza’ play call
**Pizza Hut** has teamed with Tom Brady on a campaign that urges NFL quarterbacks to say “pizza” before “hut” at the line of scrimmage, turning real‑time broadcasts into ad moments. The initiative runs across social, digital and TV, with participating cities eligible for free pizza, illustrating how brands are using sports and live events to drive viral engagement.
Almond Breeze and Jonas Brothers mock ‘AI slop’ in new ad series
Blue Diamond’s **Almond Breeze** brand has released videos where the Jonas Brothers reject low‑quality, AI‑generated ad concepts—like them floating in space—in favor of a classic endorsement. The work taps into growing skepticism about generic AI content, positioning the brand as creative‑first while still engaging with the AI conversation culturally.
Jim Beam enlists Kenan Thompson to calm anxious football fans
Bourbon brand **Jim Beam** has launched a playful campaign featuring “Saturday Night Live” star Kenan Thompson that targets tense football fans during peak sports viewing. The creative builds on the brand’s broader push to expand its consumer base with humor‑driven storytelling and culturally relevant occasions.
Journalism and media 2026 report flags ‘answer engines’ and creator wave as key challenges for marketers
The Reuters Institute’s **Journalism, Media, and Technology Trends and Predictions 2026** report highlights the rise of AI‑powered “answer engines” and the growing dominance of creators, reshaping how audiences discover content and ads. The study also warns of “AI slop,” deepfakes and misinformation, signaling that brands and advertisers will need more distinctive, trustworthy content strategies.
IPG launches Agentic Systems to strengthen commerce‑focused marketing services
Holding company **Interpublic Group (IPG)** has introduced a new commerce offering called Agentic Systems, aimed at helping brands accelerate sales across channels and better link media, data and retail execution. The move reflects intensifying competition among agency groups to provide end‑to‑end commerce and retail media capabilities for global clients.
Assembly and ADK Global complete merger to create larger APAC media network
Stagwell has finalized the merger of **Assembly** and **ADK Global**, forming an integrated media entity with expanded presence and leadership across Asia‑Pacific. The combined organization is positioned to offer more scale in media, data and creator‑driven solutions, with both sides emphasizing that the deal involves no layoffs and new leadership roles instead.
Publicis acquires sports and experiential agency Bespoke to deepen culture‑first offering
**Publicis Groupe** has acquired Bespoke, a sports and experiential marketing agency, adding to recent sports and culture‑focused acquisitions like Adopt. The deal strengthens Publicis’ capabilities in live experiences and fandom‑driven campaigns, areas increasingly important for brands seeking deeper engagement beyond traditional media buys.
Rimowa appoints Gut as global agency of record in major luxury win
LVMH‑owned luggage brand **Rimowa** has selected agency **Gut** as its global agency of record following a competitive review. The win marks Gut’s first major global assignment in luxury, signaling how luxury brands are leaning into bolder creative shops to attract younger, travel‑oriented consumers.