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News 2 min read

TBWA confirms exit of ANZ chief Paul Bradbury after two decades at the helm - more exits likely in sweeping Omnicom restructure

By Kalila Welch - Senior Journalist

TBWA Australia and New Zealand confirmed today the departure of regional president and CEO Paul Bradbury after nearly two decades at the helm. Official confirmation of Bradbury's exit comes hours after Omnicom announced a sweeping restructure of the entire group...

News Plus 5 min read

Global template: Omnicom confirms major restructure – creative, media, PR, performance, production – rolled into Omnicom Oceania under Nick Garrett

By Paul McIntyre and Brendan Coyne

Omnicom has confirmed a massive restructure in Australia and New Zealand, with all of its business units across media, creative, PR, performance marketing and production being rolled into Omnicom Oceania under Nick Garrett. The model appears to be a pilot...

News 2 min read

ACCC greenlights US$13bn Omnicom-IPG merger, finds 'remaining' holdcos and indies will 'continue to effectively compete'

By Kalila Welch - Senior Journalist

The ACCC has said it will not oppose Omnicom's acquisition of The Interpublic Group of Companies, following an investigation into the proposed deal that kicked off in May.

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News Plus 3 min read

Hyland v Havas Media Australia: CEO Virginia Hyland exits, takes holdco to Federal Court over alleged breach of workplace rights

By Kalila Welch - Senior Journalist

UPDATED: Havas Media Australia chief Virginia Hyland is leaving the French holding company and lodged a Breach of General Protections claim with the Federal Court. The case in recent days...

News Plus 8 min read

Australia’s influencer money movement is still to come – but prepare now for inevitability: Investment banker turned creator agency boss on risk, reward and why corporates must cede control

By Kalila Welch - Senior Journalist

Hypetap boss Detch Singh left a career in investment banking to ride the influencer wave in 2013 – within weeks of Google taking over Howard Hughes’ old LA studio to...

Super Cannes ‘25 | Partnered by QMS 5 min read

Zenith ANZ CEO Jason Tonelli flags gamers, influencers and creators - linked to centralised identity - the masterplan for Publicis Groupe’s alternative media ecosystem, with cheaper reach

By Paul McIntyre - Executive Editor

Publicis Groupe is building an alternative media and audience reach network to legacy media channels, leveraging the $650m in influencer and creator platform acquisitions it has made in the past year...

Industry Contributor 2 min read

AI transforms agency remuneration: Shift from time-based to value-driven models urgently required

By Jen Davidson - Managing Partner | Tumbleturn Marketing Advisory

Agency holding groups are piling into AI. Problem is, remuneration models haven't caught up. Without a major rethink about how agencies get paid by brands, expect more profit warnings, as

News Plus 8 min read

Roids, rage, relevance: How an agency village went super granular via BVOD, YouTube and digital OOH to hit swing voters in federal election

By Kalila Welch - Senior Journalist

If you think media has gone nuts over the last five years, try running a federal election campaign. It’s a five-week vortex of everything the industry is grappling with “but...

Industry Contributor 4 min read

Dangerous duplicity? Cannes Grand Prix for Budweiser’s Iconic Sounds hits dangerous bum note

By Ben Liebmann - Founder | Understory

AB InBev throws legal heat at anyone ripping off its brands. Yet Budweiser’s Iconic Sounds Grand Prix winner openly celebrates lifting audio clips without paying a cent – then asks

News Plus 7 min read

AMI CPD: 0.5

Fear, loathing and existential crisis: CMOs at Ikea, The Iconic, IBM plus Thinkerbell, EY on AI adoption – and where next

By Nadia Cameron - Editor - Marketing | Associate Publisher

Being perceived as a cheat or doing something wrong by bringing AI into your work, naggy cognitive bias against change, wanting to belong and feel valued – these very real...

Super Cannes ‘25 | Partnered by QMS 10 min read

AMI CPD: 1

'The most important advertising thinking in 10 years': Ritson says System1-Effies database fusion cracks code on 12x profit multiplier from running distinctive, emotional ads longer

By Brendan Coyne - Associate Editor

"Avoid the pornography of change" was virtual Professor Mark Ritson's take on research by System1's Andrew Tindall that he thinks deserves a place in the marketing effectiveness pantheon of greats...

Industry Contributor 5 min read

Clockwork Oranged: Why brutal, blunt, calculating, merciless synthetics are the future of creative testing

By Jazz Twemlow - Senior Creative, Paper Moose

Focus groups are limited by human nature. Ad testing is likewise tainted. But cold, calculated and with absolutely no desire to please anyone, synthetic clones change all of that, argues

Super Cannes ’25 | Partnered by QMS 5 min read

Winners & grinners: All the brands and agency wins at this year's Cannes Lions from Australia and New Zealand in one place – here

By Kalila Welch - Senior Journalist

The Cannes Lions festivities are officially done and dusted. Check out the full list of brands and agencies from Australia and New Zealand that have won on the world stage...

Super Cannes ‘25 | Partnered by QMS 10 min read

Amazon, Mars, Novartis marketing chiefs set tone at Cannes: Major swing back to creative as differentiator is on

By Brendan Coyne - Associate Editor

A swathe of Australia's domestic market is banking on safe brand platforms, low risk personalisation and 'good enough' customer experience to deliver incremental growth. But global marketing, customer and brand bosses...

Deep Dive 10 min read

AMI CPD: 0.5

WPP Media privacy master plan: identifiers out, AI mega modelling in, cracks access to Apple targeting, opens Google, Meta, TikTok data

By Paul McIntyre & Brendan Coyne

Half the digital media market is not targetable. WPP Media is aiming to change that amid a major shift in the way it plans and buys media. Evan Hanlon, global...

Agencies & Consulting Library

Industry Contributor 8 Dec 2022 - 5 min read

It’s time to personalise our approach to personalisation (or why 1:1, true real-time, contextual, predictive AI-driven mega personalisation is usually mis-sold fool's gold)

By Mark Gretton - CTO, CHEP Network

As we continue along the personalisation journey, let’s just ensure that we think, rather than relying on generic models...

News 8 Dec 2022 - 1 min read

Initiative wins Fitness & Lifestyle Group and EnergyAustralia

By Staff writer

Mediabrands’ Initiative has won strategy and buying for Fitness & Lifestyle Group (FLG) and Energy Australia.

Deep Dive 7 Dec 2022 - 6 min read

Mi3's top media stories of 2022: The rise of retailer media, the race for attention metrics, BVOD frequency fails, countermeasures, Netflix noise – and who’s got the biggest identity graph

By Paul McIntyre & Brendan Coyne

Retailer media made all the running in 2022, at least within Mi3's top 25 media stories of the year. The main TV networks

Deep Dive 6 Dec 2022 - 6 min read

Mi3's top agency and consulting stories of 2022: Perk wars, burnout, holdcos raiding holdcos; consultants picking off martech spoils, the $200bn black hole – and Mark Green resisting David Droga

By Paul McIntyre & Brendan Coyne

Rampant wage and perk inflation, poaching and how to get staff back in the office were universal agency themes in the first

Industry Contributor 6 Dec 2022 - 4 min read

Forget 60:40. A looming recession and the rise of retail media is set to change the brand-activation ratio

By Simon Porter - Head of Retail, Hatched Sydney

Past recessionary periods saw marketers gravitate to quality, measurable channels. With the media landscape further shifting...

News 5 Dec 2022 - 1 min read

Jacquie Alley new indy media agency lobby chair as Ant Colreavy steps down

By Staff writer

TMS operations chief Jacquie Alley is the new chair of Indy media agency group the IMAA as Ant Colreavy steps down.

Deep Dive 5 Dec 2022 - 6 min read

Mi3's top marketing stories of 2022: Shopper data bonanza; culling legacy marketing capability; post-Covid loyalty boom and a swing back to creativity over digital 'horsehit'

By Paul McIntyre & Brendan Coyne

Local CMOs throwing off the shackles of global brand hegemony; online pureplay retailers finally realising Ritson was right

News 5 Dec 2022 - 1 min read

Accenture buys Fiftyfive5 to bolster Song's research capability

By Staff writer

Accenture is bolstering its marketing services unit with the acquisition of research and insights business Fiftyfive5.

News 5 Dec 2022 - 1 min read

Hatched hires more Havas seniors in bid to crack Sydney

By Staff writer

Hatched is adding further firepower to its new Sydney office, hiring Managing Partners Catherine Edghill and Danni Dimitri.

News 5 Dec 2022 - 1 min read

Dentsu’s iProspect retains L’Oreal SEO business

By Staff writer

Dentsu's iProspect has seen off an army of rivals to hold onto L'Oreal's search account.

Industry Contributor 2 Dec 2022 - 5 min read

'Don't aim to be liked, aim to be respected': Google’s Sophie Hirst, Carat’s Emily Cook and digital marketing consultant EJ Gamboa emerge from The Marketing Academy without a five-year plan, but that's okay

By EJ Gamboa, Consultant; Sophie Hirst, Google ANZ; Emily Cook, Carat - The Marketing Academy 2022 Scholars

The Marketing Academy's 2022 scholar intake graduated last week. Mi3 asked the class of '22 for their takeouts. EJ Gamboa,...

Deep Dive 30 Nov 2022 - 6 min read

Mi3's top stories of 2022: Marketing science wars, the ESOV problem, crap briefs, privacy crunch – and why vanity metrics must die

By Paul McIntyre & Brendan Coyne

Crap briefs, a war on vanity metrics, feuding marketing professors, and marketers getting stuck into a bit of mess. Mi3’s top

News 30 Nov 2022 - 1 min read

Pet Circle appoints AnalogFolk for creative social as business booms

By Staff writer

Pet Circle says business is booming following a pandemic surge in pet owners – with millennials and Gen Z now making up the

News 30 Nov 2022 - 1 min read

Ben Shepherd lands at Dentsu as media investment chief

By Staff writer

Ben Shepherd is the latest recruit under Danny Bass' overhaul at Dentsu Media, joining the firm from Bain & Company.

News Plus 30 Nov 2022 - 6 min read

SCA eyes 10% digital revenues in 2024 as podcasts pump, Hamish & Andy drive 8x radio CPMs, Listnr moves dial; non-radio national advertisers drive demand; podcast creators told ‘hit 20k or get flicked’

By Brendan Coyne - Editor

SCA chief Grant Blackley says the firm will write $32-$35m from digital audio this financial year and that the quarterly

Industry Contributor 28 Nov 2022 - 5 min read

Justifying marketing investment 2023's key challenge: Don't pitch to save money and audit in-house teams – pitch consultant's marketer survival guide

By Jen Davidson - Managing Partner, Tumbleturn Media

Justifying marketing investment is the key challenge for 2023, says pitch consultant Jen Davidson. She suggests marketers...

Industry Contributor 28 Nov 2022 - 4 min read

The purpose of brand purpose: Dispelling the Sinek effect

By Jules Hall - CEO, The Hallway

Is brand purpose dead? No, says The Hallway boss Jules Hall. But the definition of brand purpose got hijacked, he suspects,...

Industry Contributor 28 Nov 2022 - 4 min read

Flying cars? Nah, automatic best-price is the next big thing

By Tim Tyler - Managing Partner, Ellipsis

There's government-backed change afoot that will have major implications for loyalty schemes. Ellipses Managing Partner Tim...

News Plus 28 Nov 2022 - 5 min read

Warburton: Advertisers holding back cash for 2023 will get the scraps; AFL worth the hike for digital rights; streaming deal still in play; M&A waiting game

By Paul McIntyre & Brendan Coyne

Seven CEO James Warburton warns media agency groups and their advertisers planning to dial down upfront cash commitments for

News Plus 23 Nov 2022 - 5 min read

Big Brother: Why ex-Jetstar boss Bruce Buchanan’s $2.9 billion ‘lower funnel’ start-up Rokt says brand investment is all powerful; tech, automation model the blueprint for Aimee Buchanan at GroupM

By Paul McIntyre - Executive Editor

Sibling rivalry? Maybe a little. Bruce Buchanan jetted in from his base in New York recently as his 10-year-old ecommerce

News 23 Nov 2022 - 1 min read

Michael McEwan becomes M&C Saatchi CEO under group boss Justin Graham

By Staff writer

M&C Saatchi national Managing Director Michael McEwan has been made agency CEO, reporting into group boss Justin Graham.

News Plus 22 Nov 2022 - 4 min read

‘This is not about Kim Kardashian’: Ex-Coles’ ‘Down Down’ CMO Tony Phillips joins The Influence Group as CEO Henry Tajer warns old world media metrics from agencies ‘hurting’

By Paul McIntyre - Executive Editor

Long-time allies Henry Tajer and Tony Phillips – both worked on the Coles business where Phillips was behind the polarising

News 22 Nov 2022 - 1 min read

This Is Flow wins three new brands – prepares to jump out of plane

By Staff writer

This is Flow has won planning and buying duties for tourism firm Experience Co, mens skin care brand Rockface and retail

News 22 Nov 2022 - 1 min read

Dentsu's Danny Bass hires Fiona Johnston

By Staff writer

Fiona Johnston has returned to Australia. Danny Bass has hired the former UM boss and MediaCom business lead as the two aim

Industry Contributor 21 Nov 2022 - 5 min read

The Marketing Academy 2022 intake: NSW Customer Service's John Kerrison, Thinkerbell's Katie Dally, MediaCom's Mat Glazewski on not faking mastery, letting go of all you can't control – but always being among the doers – and why agency perks won't cut it

By John Kerrison, Katie Dally and Mat Glazewski - The Marketing Academy 2022 Scholars

As the latest Marketing Academy intake prepares to graduate, Mi3 asked the class of '22 for their take on the key lessons –...

Deep Dive 21 Nov 2022 - 8 min read

Moving the needle: NAB brand chief on how the bank ‘held the line’ in the face of anti-vaxxer ‘keyboard warriors’, turned their rage into brand and business growth – as JAB helped drive Australia out of lockdown

By Paul McIntyre & Brendan Coyne

At the height of anti-vaxxer revolt, with protest boiling out on the streets, NAB decided to nail its colours to the flag and

News Plus 16 Nov 2022 - 3 min read

LinkedIn agency chief: Full service specialist indies stealing a lead in B2B marketing – but B2C behemoths can outgun them on creativity, brand building... because most ads are rubbish

By Brendan Coyne - Editor

Full service independent agencies are stealing a lead locally and internationally within B2B marketing services, according to

News Plus 16 Nov 2022 - 6 min read

Kung fu fighting: Aldi launches another cracker Christmas campaign as shoppers shift from ecommerce to high street; Outgoing marketing boss Mark Richardson flags next move

By Paul McIntyre - Executive Editor

Aldi has set the retailer benchmark again for the crucial Christmas sales period launching a snappy brand campaign featuring

News Plus 16 Nov 2022 - 3 min read

Village people: BMF CEO says Federal government comms overhaul banishing 'tick box' ads, pushes ‘brand resilience’ as consumer belts tighten

By Brendan Coyne - Editor

Last year’s overhaul of government comms procurement is paying off because agencies are no longer having to bet everything on

News Plus 16 Nov 2022 - 5 min read

Where the bloody hell are you? MFA, ACA-backed ad industry visa scheme a 'great success' but 84% of quota unused amid talent shortage, rampant poaching; no Aussie indies on board

By Sam Buckingham-Jones - Deputy Editor

The Advertising Industry Labour Agreement was a breakthrough industry initiative hailed at the time as a lifeline to a sector

Industry Contributor 15 Nov 2022 - 5 min read

Pricing rethink: How brands can ease the Pain of Paying – and keep customers, and cashflow, in a crunch

By Dan Monheit - CEO, Hardhat

Making a payment lights up regions in the brain associated with pain. So in tough economic times, companies need to look at...

News 15 Nov 2022 - 3 min read

IMAA adds 17 indie agency group discounts for attention planning, measurement, ratings, HR, verification

By Sam Buckingham-Jones - Deputy Editor

The IMAA has added 17 group deals for its more than 145 indie agency members, with offers on radio ratings, campaign

Deep Dive 14 Nov 2022 - 10 min read

‘Definite pullback’: Online retailers squeezed as Covid bubble pops, performance costs ‘through roof’, shoppers return to stores; Alquemie-Mosaic chair plans physical stores for Surf Stitch, tech stack overhaul to cross-sell General Pants, Lego, Noni B

By Paul McIntyre & Brendan Coyne

Richard Facioni, chair of retail groups Alquemie and Mosaic Brands – with upwards of 1,000 stores and brands including Surf

News Plus 10 Nov 2022 - 4 min read

BeingIconic closes $1m funding from Aussie, Asian marketing, media execs with hybrid fee for service, equity model for 50 scale-ups, plots US, UK, Asia expansion

By Sam Buckingham-Jones - Deputy Editor

A group of agency and marketing execs have opened their wallets to buy into BeingIconic, a firm that grows scale-ups by

News Plus 9 Nov 2022 - 4 min read

The real deal on brand purpose: Marketers reclaiming product, packaging, driving supply chain overhauls, not just spouting platitudes about values – how Colgate Palmolive marketing chief is doing, not saying

By Paul McIntyre & Brendan Coyne

"We're in more homes across the world than any other brand so we have a real opportunity to make a big difference,” says

News Plus 8 Nov 2022 - 4 min read

Last click strikes back: Pet Circle CMO says inflation, profit focus forcing brands down funnel, forecasts search price spikes; Bupa performance chief twists, backs brand as CPAs rise, loyalty falls

By Brendan Coyne & Paul McIntyre

The CMO of private equity-backed online pureplay, Pet Circle, with a customer base approaching one million and revenues in