The Campaign Podcast

Should an agency be judged by its diversity? 02.06.2026 31分

In 2025, there was a major rollback of DEI initiatives, and in 2026 the gender pay gap widened in advertising, while it shrinks in other sectors. However, the IPA Census reported the proportion of women in C-suite surpassing 40% in adland for the first time, and ethnic minority representation at senior levels improved following two successive years of decline.Campaign’s School Reports highlight and critique an agency’s efforts to improve its diversity, which has received some criticism for focusing too much on race and gender and overlooking class.In this episode, Campaign's journalists are asking whether, in a time of declining DEI initiatives, an agency should be judged by its diversity, how much do clients care, and is agency diversity becoming less of a priority.Hosted by tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley, this episode includes premium content editor Nicola Merrifield, deputy media editor Shauna Lewis and UK editor Maisie McCabe.Further reading:Why has adland's gender pay gap got worse?School Reports 2026: The end of “performative window dressing” for diversity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Media 360: What's the biggest change impacting media this year? 27.05.2026 17分

Campaign's Media 360 opened its doors last week to a room of senior marketers, media owners and agency leaders. Food critic and Masterchef presenter Grace Dent opened the two-day conference in Brighton with speakers including co-host of The Rest Is Politics, Alastair Campbell, The Guardian's global chief advertising officer Imogen Fox and Michelle Spillane, managing director, Paddy Power Online at Flutter UK.This episode features the event's co-chairs: Sannah Rogers, chief executive of Zenith UK, and James Bailey, chief executive of Dentsu Media UK and Ireland. They chat to Campaign's tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley about their reflections on the media industry following the conference and discuss the biggest changes affecting the media industry and the people in it.Before the interview, media editor Beau Jackson and deputy media editor Shauna Lewis chat with Shelley on their reflections after day one, on themes of trust, community and Big Tech.Further reading:PepsiCo on how a media shake-up boosted OOHBauer’s Thomas Garry wins Media360 Challenge 2026How Just Eat and British Heart Foundation manage brand risk in influencer marketingGuardian ads chief: Brands need to embrace cultural turbulence'If you ask us to make an AI ad, we will inherently fail': Particle6 on AI in production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is adland in danger of undervaluing mentoring? 19.05.2026 30分

The advertising and media industry is going through a period of massive change, as a result of AI, economic and global pressures, organisational restructures and redundancies. In the latest market report from Campaign Red called “The Great Reboot”, we reported that the top holding companies cut 12,000 people from their businesses.As the industry is contracting, how are the people within it, its leaders and those seeking employment obtaining mentorship to push themselves and the industry forward?So far this year, we have seen the launch of mentorships schemes from The Marketing Skills Trust, Ogilvy UK and Rapp UK, an expansion of Lollipop mentoring’s existing programme and launch of Zoo.London’s career community.In this episode, Campaign's editorial team discusses why mentoring is so important in periods of rapid change, if adland puts enough value on the power of mentoring, and what happens if it’s neglected altogether. Fiona Cameron joins the episode as vice president of women’s professional support programme Bloom, and former learning and development partner at Group M, now called WPP Media. From Campaign, the episode features deputy editor Gemma Charles, deputy creativity and culture editor Charlotte Rawlings, and hosted by tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley.Further reading:Campaign Inspiring Women Awards winners 2026: Mentor of the YearWhat does it take to be an ad agency chief executive? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What’s wrong with being a holding company? 12.05.2026 28分

Adland’s agency networks have been forced to think differently, after a challenging year for holding companies with economic instability, a mega-merger and AI disruption.Publicis began calling itself a “platform organisation” years ago, while Omnicom restructured to become a “premier marketing and sales company” after the acquisition of IPG last year. In February, WPP’s chief executive Cindy Rose said: “We don’t want to be a holding company any more”, but a “single operating company” instead.Campaign Red released a market report called "The big reboot", looking into the top network's 2025 FY results and what the post-holding company era looks like for the industry.In this episode, Campaign's editorial team is discussing why the largest agency groups are moving away from the holding company label, and what this "reboot" means. Editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier, media editor Beau Jackson and deputy media editor Shauna Lewis join the episode hosted by tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley.Further reading:Arthur Sadoun on why “pressure” from investors doesn’t matter, Publicis' “resilience” and the competitionPublicis grows 4.5% in Q1 as Arthur Sadoun pans “squeeze to please Wall Street”Q1 expected to be “worst quarter” for WPP’s new business in 2026WPP reports 6.7% revenue decline in Q1 2026Omnicom revenue grew 3.9% in Q1 after IPG acquisitionChapter 1: RevenueChapter 2: HeadcountChapter 3: M&AChapter 4: Share priceChapter 5: New businessChapter 6: Creative awardsAA/Warc: adspend forecast for 2026 drops amid methodology shake-up“The fragmentation of media is clear”: adland reacts to AA/Warc Expenditure ReportAA/Warc: adspend to break records and smash £50bn ceiling in 2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do the ITV, Warner Bros and Telegraph deals mean for advertisers? 05.05.2026 32分

Media has seen a string of deals in the last year, poised to consolidate key areas of the market. Paramount Skydance seeks to complete its $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros., and in the UK, Sky ponders its bid to acquire the broadcast and ad sales division of ITV. In publishing, after several other attempts fell through, European media group Axel Springer, which owns Business Insider and Politico, has agreed to buy the Telegraph Media Group for the sum of £575m.So, pending various approvals, what would such deals mean for the media landscape and its advertisers?Campaign's editorial team gather in the studio to discuss why media owners are consolidating, the impact on media buyers and what it means for competition. Hosted by media editor Beau Jackson, this episode includes Campaign’s UK editor Maisie McCabe, editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier and deputy media editor Shauna Lewis.Further readingWill Sky’s proposed takeover of ITV be good for advertisers?ITV confirms talks with Sky about £1.6bn sale of M&E unitParamount Advertising takes sole control of UK sponsorship deals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does sports marketing need "disrupting"? 28.04.2026 27分

Publicis Groupe acquired sports marketing and entertainment agency 160over90 this month, in a move it claims will “disrupt” the sector.In this episode, the Campaign team discusses why Publicis has made this "big bet" now, whether the sector needs disrupting and how influencers are changing the game. The team discusses why some say "the gap between brands and consumers is widening" and how athletes are becoming their own "self-contained media platforms, because their performance in the game is so intrinsic to their personas".Hosted by tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley, this episode includes deputy creativity and culture editor Charlotte Rawlings, creativity and culture editor Shauna Lewis and deputy news editor Marianne Calnan-Holland.Further reading:What does the fan experience of the Fifa World Cup look like from the UK?Coca-Cola World Cup spot explores emotional journey of footballWhy is gaming not a media channel?Beyond borders: why countries don’t define modern fandomFifa 2026’s longer tournament window presents a golden opportunity for fan activationsBurnley FC and X unveil social documentary on women’s teamBurnley FC and X partner with Sure For Men for UK’s first X Original series Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does being in the office more increase productivity? 21.04.2026 29分

Last year WPP, Apple and Amazon increased their in-office days, with the latter two tech companies mandating five days in office. In February this year, adland’s best-performing holding company Publicis Groupe increased its mandated staff attendance from three days to four.In the age of AI and efficiency, this episode of The Campaign Podcast is asking if being in the office more does actually increase productivity, if its possible to measure productivity and if adland will soon be in the office for more days a week. Hosted by tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley, this episode includes deputy editor Gemma Charles, deputy media editor Shauna Lewis and deputy creative and culture editor Charlotte Rawlings.Further reading:Should adland follow Publicis and WPP’s four-day office mandate?This is adland: 2025Updated: latest hybrid working policies at “new big six”Why do more office days no longer boost staff’s sense of belonging?Hybrid working in adland: who struggles most with stricter in-office policies?Hybrid working Credos report: Less than half of adland happy with home/office splitMark Read: 'People are happier when they’re in the office'Is a four-day working week viable for adland? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How responsible are brands for online safety on social platforms? 14.04.2026 37分

In March, Meta and Google were found liable for designing addictive platforms that harmed a young user's mental health, a verdict both platforms disagree with and plan to appeal. Channel 4 also released its documentary called Molly vs The Machines about a 14 year old girl who took her own life after seeing harmful content online. Plus, the UK Government began a consultation for a potential ban for under 16s to improve digital safety, following Australia's ban in December, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying we “have to act”.Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and other platforms rely on advertising to make money. So whether a government ban or strict regulation of the platforms is the solution, this episode questions how much responsibility should the brands funding these platforms have.Jake Dubbins, managing director at Media Bounty and co-chair of Conscious Advertising Network, joins the episode alongside Campaign's UK editor Maisie McCabe and editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier. This episode is hosted by tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley.Further reading:Ian Russell challenges Instagram boss to “chat” at Cannes LionsMolly vs the Machines showed us that advertising choices aren't neutralCan we talk about whether fraudulent ads are the tech platforms' biggest problem?Ofcom research finds rise in concern over online risks versus benefits Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why are in-house teams taking top talent from agencies? 07.04.2026 31分

In-house agencies have been growing over the last few years, as brands have been taking more work in-house and building bespoke teams. In the last few weeks, Allwyn launched an in-house studio, ITV shifted its retained creative account from Uncommon to ITV Creative and Uncommon’s executive creative director Richard Biggs jumped to BBC Creative. Campaign Red analysed this trend and last month produced an in-depth global report, The Inside Job, looking into what disciplines brands are in-housing, why they are luring agency talent and how they are collaborating with external agencies. In this episode, Niki Garner, director of ITV Creative, joins The Campaign Podcast to discuss the in-housing evolution, why she hires from agencies and how in-house teams can provide the most value. Garner was also named In-house Agency Leader at Campaign’s In-House agency awards last year.Joining from the Campaign team is data journalist Jamie Rossouw, co-author of The Inside Job, and premium content editor Nicola Merrifield. This episode is hosted by tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley.Further reading:How to build a successful in-house agencyAllwyn's media director: in-house shop Studio 59 aiming for “newsroom mentality”BBC Creative appoints Natalie Lau as head of planningITV Creative lead dismisses past 'snobbery' aimed at in-house agenciesITV promotes I’m a Celebrity… South Africa with hand-drawn animation“The darker side of water”: behind the scenes of Channel 4’s “The fountain of filth”Lego ad calls 'play' with array of characters performed by Tom HollandSpecsavers highlights audiology services by 'rebranding'Over four in 10 in-house agencies want to be brand’s lead agency, IHALC research findsITV, Reckitt and Pepsi in-house leaders to speak at Campaign's In-Housing SummitThe Lists 2025: Top five in-house creativesCampaign In-House Agency Awards 2025: winners revealed Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will Whitehorn: “We have to industrialise in space. It is an imperative” 02.04.2026 26分

In a break from the usual listen, we're bringing you the first three episodes of The Karman Line, a new podcast about the UK space industry from Haymarket Media Group, the owner of Campaign. This burgeoning sector is keen to communicate the extraordinary things it is doing to wider, complementary audiences.How do we solve population pressure and climate crisis in space? How has GPS allowed us to provide 12% more food globally? How did the UK become a global leader in small satellite manufacture after the British Government said, “there’s no future for the UK satellite industry”? How did Elon Musk turn reusable rockets from science fiction to science fact in less than 20 years? What else are “Elon and Jeff” going to allow us to do? And why is SpaceX still “the elephant in the room”? Join Alice as she talks to Will Whitehorn, chair of giant space tech investor Seraphim and former president of Virgin Galactic, and they discuss the implications of “The Elon Musk show” and its legacy, “the beginnings of a competitive space industry of scale”. Contributors:Alice Bunn, President of UKspace Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedInUKspace: Overview | LinkedIn Will Whitehorn OBE, Seraphim Space Investment TrustWill Whitehorn OBE | LinkedInKey topics covered:UK satellite manufactureUK universitiesSpaceX valuationReuseable rocketsAgricultural managementPopulation pressureClimate crisisSolar powerData centres in spaceIndustrialising in space Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can an agency score a 9 in Campaign’s School Reports? 31.03.2026 26分

Campaign's annual School Reports scrutinise and assess 80 UK agencies from across the industry, giving them each a score between 1 and 9.Released last week, agencies across creative, media, social, digital, CRM and experiences are evaluated based on their individual history. The top mark of 9 is awarded to an agency that has had an outstanding year; 8 for an excellent year; 7 for a good one; 6 is satisfactory; 5 is adequate; 4 stands for below average; 3 is poor; 2, a year to forget and 1 warns that the shop's survival is in question. For the last two years, no 9s were given, but this year, there were four awarded. In this episode, Campaign's journalists discuss what the data revealed about individual agency health, how agencies fared in this year’s reports against difficult conditions and what goes into achieving a top score of 9. Premium content editor Nicola Merrifield, editor Maisie McCabe and media editor Beau Jackson join the episode hosted by tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley. Further reading:School Reports 2026: Top holding companiesSchool Reports 2026 tables: Top 100 creative agenciesSchool Reports 2026 tables: Top 50 media agenciesSchool Reports 2026: Top regional agenciesSchool Reports 2026: Agency billings growth slows down amid industry challengesSchool Reports 2026: The end of “performative window dressing” for diversitySchool Reports 2026: Which agencies got the highest marks?What is Group M?Do holding company solutions undermine agency brands?WPP launches new Elevate28 strategy with four core divisions and £500m savings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Live from Campaign’s gaming summit: Dentsu on where brands are missing out 30.03.2026 26分

Gaming has firmly entered the mainstream, with more than three billion players worldwide and engagement levels that now rival – and often exceed – social platforms. What was once seen as a niche channel is now a dominant cultural force, commanding time, attention and participation at scale.These shifts, and what they mean for brands, were explored in depth at Campaign’s recent gaming summit, held in London.In this sponsored episode of The Campaign Podcast, Dentsu’s global head of gaming, Brent Koning, builds on that conversation and goes further. He delves into gaming’s role as an immersive social space, and why it remains one of the most underutilised channels in the marketing mix. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Space-Comm Expo: Jamming, spoofing, FOMO and farming 26.03.2026 20分

In a break from the usual listen, we're bringing you the first three episodes of The Karman Line, a new podcast about the UK space industry from Haymarket Media Group, the owner of Campaign. This burgeoning sector is keen to communicate the extraordinary things it is doing to wider, complementary audiences.What did the Space-Comm Expo conference and exhibition tell us about connecting space and wider business? How does this manifest as tech connectivity in telecoms and why do farmers care about that? What did we learn about the benefits of extreme cold in manufacturing laboratories and why do pharmas care about that? How vulnerable are global logistics to the spoofing of navigation signals? And why is the UK government centralising space strategy in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology? Join Alice and Jonners as they reflect on the UK space sector’s largest trade event and the “energy, diversity and …sheer scope of what this industry has to offer”. Contributors:Alice Bunn, President of UKspace Dr Alice Bunn OBE FIMechE FRAeS CEng | LinkedInUKspace: Overview | LinkedIn Jonathan Daves, The Karman LineJonathan Daves | LinkedIn Subscribe to The Karman LineApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-k%C3%A1rm%C3%A1n-line/id1876605462Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qED4CgdRDxfKKzYNKZCIH?si=lZ-I4a19SPGLAJL-dHi4DQYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheKármánLineUKKey topics covered:Space-Comm Expo, London, March 2026Conference overviewSector integrationInsuranceCustomer utilityGovernment roleFuture outlook Technological advancements· Telecoms· Manufacturing Defence and security· Satellite capabilities· Current threats Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is gaming not a media channel? 25.03.2026 18分

If gaming is not to be considered a media channel, what is it? Campaign hosted the Gaming Summit this month, and many speakers at the event asserted that gaming should be considered more than just a channel to activate to make the most of its 3.5 billion global audience.In this episode, Campaign's journalists from the event discuss why media should not be considered as as media channel, some of the mistakes brands make when approaching gaming and how to capitalise on the audience's active engagement.Tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley is joined by the event’s host media editor Beau Jackson and deputy media editor Shauna Lewis.Further reading:McDonald's taps into nostalgia with trading card promotionReplacing the funnel: the three pillars of modern gaming marketing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is imitating other ads really a form of flattery? 17.03.2026 23分

The quote “good artists copy, great artists steal” also applies to advertising. Some ads are paying homage while some simply rip others off when creatives spot a good idea.In this episode, the Campaign team takes a look at some of the recent ads that look noticeably similar, including British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research, Crocs and the V&A, Experian and an Amazon ad from 2023, Primark and Levi's iconic denim ad and Apple Watch and Rebook's "Belly's going to get you" in 2000.Some creatives argue that ads can get away with copying if it's "over five years old and 5000 miles away", while others suggest it is "lazy" and creatives should be "named and shamed".Host tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley is joined by deputy creativity and culture editor Charlotte Rawlings, reporter Eszter Gurbicz and editor Maisie McCabe.Further reading:Is there such a thing as an original (OOH) idea?Is pre-testing a ‘no-brainer’? With Martin BeverleyComing up in the Campaign calendar:Influencer360 on 28th April Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why the business of space is everyone’s business 11.03.2026 43分

In a break from the usual listen, we're bringing you The Karman Line, which is a new podcast on the British space industry from Haymarket Media Group, the owner of Campaign.The UK space industry is a significant and strategic driver of the UK economy contributing over £19 billion in direct revenues. And it needs brilliant communicators to help tell its story.For most people, space is about rockets and astronauts. But it's actually about sustainability, infrastructure, observation, communication and increasingly, manufacturing. Not a lot of people know that. For the space industry to fully realise its potential it needs more of the right people to understand what’s happening and get involved. People like policy makers, investors, regulators, planners, lawyers and consultants.In this first episode of The Karman Line, Dr Alice Bunn, the president of UK Space, and her panel of guests, Sam Alden co-CEO of Space Solar, Nick Shave managing director of Astroscale and Anushka Sharma founder of Naaut, discuss the surprising, awe inspiring business of space. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will Cindy Rose's plan save WPP? 03.03.2026 34分

WPP announced a new strategy and structure last week, on Thursday 26 February, as the company hopes to turn its fate around, while reporting its worst financial performance since the pandemic. Campaign's editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier interviewed WPP's chief executive officer Cindy Rose on the three-phrase plan "Elevate28" which includes £500m in cost savings and transitioning the business from a holding company structure to a single company with four core divisions – WPP Media, WPP Creative, WPP Production and WPP Enterprise Solutions. These will be led across four regions globally.In this episode, the Campaign team breaks down the announcements and what it means for WPP’s agencies, look at how the company compares to its competitors and discuss if Rose's plan will work. Tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley hosts the episode which includes Spanier alongside editor Maisie McCabe and deputy media editor Shauna Lewis.Further reading:WPP Media and VML drive 8% UK decline for WPPWPP Creative will 'not sunset' agency brands Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do leaders lead in challenging times? 24.02.2026 27分

Campaign has released the A List – a compilation of over 200 industry leaders and their musings on the year gone and year ahead. In 2025, the advertising and marketing industry underwent some huge organisational shifts. With revenue declines and share price drops, job cuts, leadership changes and legacy agencies changing their names, 2026 marks a new era for the industry.In this episode, the Campaign team discuss some of the A Listers' perspectives, including how to be innovative in uncertain times, and what outfits they wear to a pitch.Hosted by tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley, this episode includes deputy editor Gemma Charles, editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier and deputy creativity and culture editor Charlotte Rawlings. Further reading:The 2026 A List: 'Massive fuckin' traitors', 'Method Pitchers' and AI-induced boredomHalf of VCCP's current jobs didn't exist at launch, CEO saysThe A List and it’s completely different but it’s also still the A ListCampaign A List 2026: How leaders are planning for success in surprising timesCan we talk about how you get into Campaign's 2027 A List?In Pictures: Campaign A List party 2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What will the media planner of the future look like? 17.02.2026 21分

Media planners and buyers, like many in adland, have been tackling a period of immense change. AI, media fragmentation and budget restraints are all impacting the roles within media. At the end of January Campaign hosted Media Week Live, a conference for media planners and buyers, discussing how their roles are changing and what the future of the media agency looks like. Leaders from X, Pinterest, Omnicom, WPP, Publicis and the National Theatre joined to share their perspectives from the top.Campaign's media journalists hosted the event: media editor Beau Jackson and deputy media editor Shauna Lewis. The pair join tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley to discuss the future of the media planner and buyer, what part creativity plays in the media plan, how media planners work alongside AI and what challenges media agency leaders are facing this year.Further reading:What does it take to be a media agency chief investment officer?'Frustrating' and 'disappointing': media buyers on Google's action against Kantar Media and BarbThe Lists 2025: Top 10 media buyers‘The weather is changing’: How much should publishers fret about Google AI Overviews?Will media buyers be the first victims of AI?Media buying among 'first areas to go' with rise of AI, says MediaMonks co-founder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do creatives rate the Super Bowl LX ads? 10.02.2026 26分

Following the Super Bowl LX over the weekend, David Kolbusz, chief creative officer at Orchard Creative; Helen Rhodes, chief creative officer at Grey London; and Josh Green, chief creative officer of Elvis review a selection of the ads in this week's episode of The Campaign Podcast. Hosted by Campaign’s creativity and culture editor Gurjit Degun, the trio critique work from Instacart, Anthropic, Squarespace, E.l.f Cosmetics, Pringles, Dove and Bud Light. They also comment on whether this year’s ads are better than those of previous years. Kolbusz said: "The theme for me this year was that people are starting to figure out the Super Bowl again. I think the last five or so years have just been an absolute tragedy."Further reading:Super Bowl 2026 round-up: watch the adsPringles "Can hands" by Grey London Campaign calendar:Audio Advertising Awards: final entry deadline on 12th February, with multi-entry discounts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.