The Campaign Podcast

Does January feel like a week ago or five years? The past 12 months have brought with them a lot – a mega-deal, cyber attacks, agencies renamed, new chief executives, trends fading in and out, redundancies and, of course, AI.In the final podcast episode of the year, Campaign takes a look back over 2025 at some of the most memorable moments of the year, revisiting the top stories, reviewing who was the most talked about and picking out those moments that would be better forgotten.Tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley hosts the episode and is joined by Campaign UK media editor Beau Jackson, reporter Eszter Gurbicz and editor Maisie McCabe.Further reading:Lucky Generals: ‘A creative company for people on a mission: that is still our north star’White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood will no longer appear in M&S Christmas adSantander appoints Publicis to global creative and media businessWPP recruits Microsoft exec Cindy Rose to replace Mark Read as CEOCampaign's top 10 most read stories:Group M tells staff about redundancies as restructure hits UKWPP mandates four days per week in officeOmnicom reveals huge agency shake-up, unveils new leadership, cuts 4000 jobsAgency pay revealed: a squeezed middle and a boost for bossesSchool Reports 2025: A to ZWPP employees push back on return-to-office policy with petitionRevealed: Latest hybrid working policies across 'big six' agency groupsWPP Media unveils new UK leadership structure under Brian Lesser overhaulGroup M axes global agency CEO roles in major centralisation pushWPP set to drop Group M brand in media shake-up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Waitrose, John Lewis, Tesco... the Christmas ads are all out and it's time for them to start selling. But what do adland's creative leaders make of the campaigns?Creativity and culture editor Gurjit Degun hosts this extra Private View episode of The Campaign Podcast, reviewing the top festive ads with David Kolbusz, chief creative officer at Orchard, Chaka Sobhani, the newly appointed global chief creative officer at TBWA\Worldwide, Richard Brim, founder and chief creative officer of Ace of Hearts, and Campaign’s UK editor Maisie McCabe. Talking through the craft, creative and ideas behind the ads, they discuss the following campaigns:John Lewis & Partners "Where love lives" by Saatchi & SaatchiWaitrose "The perfect gift" by Wonderhood StudiosTesco "That's what makes it Christmas" by BBHAsda "A very merry Grinchmas" by Lucky GeneralsApple “A critter carol” by TBWA\Media Arts LabPeta "Happy Christmassacre" by Grey London Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Omnicom completed its acquisition of IPG on Wednesday 26 November after clearing EU regulation. On the Monday that followed (1 December) the new holding company revealed a huge restructure including 4000 job cuts to happen by the end of the year, agencies merging, new leadership announced and some networks ceasing to exist.In this episode of The Campaign Podcast, Campaign's editorial team discuss the shape of the new holding company, which agencies are left and what chief executive John Wren is hoping will make it succeed against its competitors. Hosted by tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley, the episode features editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier, editor Maisie McCabe and news editor Will Green.Further reading:John Wren’s ‘defining moment’: can the last King of Madison Avenue make the new Omnicom work?John Wren on how Omnicom ‘will succeed’: more collaboration, new bonuses, big job cutsOmnicom consolidates global advertising agencies into TBWA, McCann and BBDOOmnicom keeps six media networks but switches global CEOs to brand presidentsAdam & Eve/DDB to merge with TBWA\London and FCB to fold into AMV BBDOOmnicom Media promotes Natalie Bell and Katrina Bozicevich following IPG dealFCB's Tyler Turnbull set to be appointed CEO of McCann WorldgroupChaka Sobhani set for new role after Omnicom acquires IPGOmnicom-IPG: How merger will reshape the competition Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the start of the year, 2025 was predicted by some adland commentators to be the year for independent agencies. Omnicom was beginning to acquire IPG to make the largest holding company, redundancies occurred across some of the networks and WPP had a more-than-difficult year on top of a new chief executive.2025 has seen the launch of many independent agencies including Ace of Hearts, Studio.One and Baby Teeth, while Ark Agency and Uncharted came into their second year. Plus, IPG sold R/GA and Huge separately to private equity, also becoming independent. So now the year is almost up, Campaign's editorial team discuss whether independent media and creative agencies have benefited from distraction caused by the holding companies. Tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley hosts the episode and is joined by creativity and culture editor Gurjit Degun, media editor Beau Jackson and editor Maisie McCabe.Further reading:Omnicom reveals huge agency shake-up, unveils new leadership, cuts 4000 jobsAce of Hearts: dealing adland a new handTroy Ruhanen: 'I wouldn't have taken OAG job if it was all about efficiency and smashing things'Group M tells staff about redundancies as restructure hits UKOmnicom cut 3000 roles during 2024 ahead of IPG takeover moveMega merger adds to existing questions for InterpublicGlobal agency groups 2024 report card: Performances and staff numbers decline as restructures continue Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christmas ads keep snowing down across TV, social, live experiences and digital channels. With the multiplicity of formats and audiences fragmenting, does TV still reign as the top channel for festive films?In this episode of The Campaign Podcast, Campaign's editorial team gather to discuss the next round of Christmas ads, including Waitrose's "The perfect gift" by Wonderhood Studios, Tesco's "That's what makes it Christmas" by BBH and Disney's holiday short by Adam&Eve/DDB. Tesco and M&S Fashion, Home and Beauty replaced their longer TV ad with a series of shorter videos, while Waitrose produced a four minute rom-com style short film.Campaign's creativity team, creativity and culture editor Gurjit Degun and deputy creativity and culture editor Charlotte Rawlings, join editor Maisie McCabe to discuss why brands have altered the ‘typical’ Christmas ad format and it's role in the wider channel mix alongside social. Tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley hosted the episode.Further reading:Waitrose’s festive film the most watched 8pm slot on TV on 12 NovemberWhy Waitrose's 'The perfect gift' went rom-com for Christmas cut-throughWaitrose & Partners turns BFI Imax into 'Piemax'Give the people what they want: the strategy behind Waitrose & Partners' Christmas campaignM&S celebrates beauty of hosting in next phase of festive campaignWhite Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood will no longer appear in M&S Christmas adHow are the LHF restrictions affecting Christmas ads and beyond?What trends are shaping this year's Christmas ads season?Christmas 2025 round-up: watch all the festive ads Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.