17322: WPP & Dentsu Have Fallen Down, Can’t Get Up.

More About Advertising reported on how WPP and Dentsu are facing falling market value and investor disinterest. Add brand indifference to create quite a brew of breakdown.

 

It’s like watching the final destruction of Jurassic World.

 

WPP follows Dentsu down

 

By Stephen Foster

 

WPP has joined Dentsu in the charity shop bargain bin, its shares tumbling 6.6% today following Dentsu’s 11% fall – presumably in sympathy unless someone knows something we don’t.

 

Dentsu is trying to offload its international business (HQ above) but, so far, there have been no takers with only Bain still apparently in talks after lukewarm interest from the much smaller trade rival Havas. A break-up of Dentsu International looks more likely with performance agency Merkle and media business Carat possibly of interest alongside fairly recent acquisition Tag. Dentsu Creative, although it has some talented people and produces good work in patches has never really functioned as a global force.

 

The same can’t be said of WPP and, to an extent, it’s surprising that no-one has nibbled at it, given that it’s now valued at less than £4bn even though its revenues are not far behind Omnicom and Publicis, valued far more highly. But its debts are equivalent to its market cap, surprising as debt reduction was supposed to be a flagship policy. Somehow or other the money still keeps leaking away.

 

Size and geographical spread no longer attract investors in the marcoms sector. Publicis Groupe, whose shares have also been under the hammer latterly, is still valued at more than Omnicom (just) even after Omnicom acquired IPG to be the biggest by revenue. You suspect that a smaller WPP would be far more attractive to investors and others than it currently is – still with around 100,000 people nobody else knows quite what to do with.

 

This is likely to be the focus of new CEO Cindy Rose’s strategic review (with McKinsey presumably) when it’s eventually announced. McKinsey, like its consultancy peers, rarely says you need more people.

17321: MLK Day 2026 In Adland (Cont’d 2).

 

Upon reviewing social media posts, no Adland holding companies acknowledged MLK Day.

 

Some could argue most holding companies are not US enterprises, being headquartered in Japan, France, the UK, etc.; hence, since MLK Day is a US holiday, the foreign-based holding companies had no obligation to salute the event.

 

Not sure what excuses Omnicom or Stagwell might offer to explain the snub. IPG—recognized for leadership in diversity and inclusion—no longer exists, so the former White holding company is absolved of its performative do-gooder duties.

 

In the end, CES trumped MLK.

 

Hell, even ERGs were seemingly deprived of a delegating diversity opportunity.

 

For Adland, the dream continues to be deliberately diverted, delegated, deferred, diminished, dismissed, and denied.

17320: MLK Day 2026 In Adland (Cont’d).

 

President Donald J. Trump acknowledged MLK Day late in the day—after receiving criticism from civil rights groups earlier on Monday that he had failed to recognize the holiday.

 

Based on Omnicom social media, it appears the ginormous White holding company skipped saluting MLK Day, despite being led by Pioneer of Diversity John Wren.

 

Yep, the two Old White Guys continue to earn being named White Man Of The Year 2025.

17319: MLK Day 2026 In Adland.

 

In the past year, Adland saw the erasure of IPG, FCB, DDB, TPN, etc.

 

Add MLK and DEIBA+ to the elimination list.

 

RIP.

17318: AAF HOF AI TBD.

 

Playing off the previous post on the AAF Advertising Hall of Fame, why was AI not among the Class of 2026?

 

The technology has surely delivered more industry innovations—and garnered more attention—than any of the humans comprising the latest inductees and honorees.

 

Given AI is usually depicted by a White robot, it would’ve made a fitting addition.

17317: AAF HOF MEH.

 

Adweek spotlighted the AAF Advertising Hall of Fame Class of 2026, which appropriately reflects Adland’s anti-DEIBA+ vibe. That is, it’s an exclusive class.

 

AAF Reveals Advertising Hall of Fame Class of 2026 

 

Honorees are recognized on the Hall of Fame’s 75th anniversary

 

By Audrey Kemp

 

The American Advertising Federation (AAF) has unveiled its 2026 Advertising Hall of Fame class as part of the program’s 75th anniversary, including six legendary industry leaders, one corporate honoree, and two President’s Award recipients.

 

The Advertising Hall of Fame recognizes individuals and organizations whose careers have had a lasting impact on advertising, business, and culture. The announcement was made Tuesday in conjunction with the ringing of the New York Stock Exchange closing bell.

 

“Our whole industry looks to the AAF Advertising Hall of Fame as the ultimate standard of leadership, character and lasting impact,” Ross Martin, chair of the AAF Advertising Hall of Fame and president of Known, told ADWEEK. “The 75th anniversary class is special, not just for what they’ve each achieved, but for who they are, how they did it, and all those they’ve inspired along the way.”

 

The 2026 Advertising Hall of Fame Inductees

 

This year’s Hall of Fame class spans creative leadership, brand stewardship, marketing innovation, and long-term cultural influence.

 

They include:

 

• Gordon Bowen, founder, mcgarrybowen; creative chairman, Dentsu Creative

 

• Esi Eggleston Bracey, global chief growth and marketing officer, Unilever

 

• Susan Fowler Credle, global creative advisor, Interpublic Group; former chair and global chief creative officer, FCB

 

• David Droga, vice chair, Accenture; founder, Droga5

 

• Tim Ellis, chief marketing officer, NFL

 

• Jim Stengel, president and CEO, The Jim Stengel Company; former global marketing officer, Procter & Gamble

 

“The Advertising Hall of Fame honors industry legends for their globally recognized achievements, groundbreaking innovations, and exceptional philanthropic contributions to both the advertising industry and their communities,” said Steve Pacheco, president and CEO of the American Advertising Federation. “On the occasion of the 75th Anniversary of the AAF Advertising Hall of Fame, I can’t think of a more distinguished Class of Honorees.”

 

Inductees will be formally celebrated at the Advertising Hall of Fame Induction Gala on April 23, 2026, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

 

Corporate Honoree: American Express

 

In addition to the individual honorees, American Express was named the 2026 corporate Hall of Fame inductee, recognizing the brand’s long-standing influence on marketing, brand storytelling, and purpose-driven business.

 

Founded more than 175 years ago, American Express has built a legacy as one of the world’s most recognizable brands, with marketing that has shaped culture across generations. The company has also been widely recognized for its support of small businesses, including its creation of Small Business Saturday.

 

“American Express has built a legacy as one of the most recognizable and respected brands in the world,” Pacheco said. “Its marketing has shaped culture. The company is also a leader in purpose-driven work, and it has shown a deep commitment to supporting small businesses and helping local merchants.”

 

President’s Award Recipients

 

To mark the Hall of Fame’s 75th anniversary, AAF has selected two President’s Awards recipients for the first time. The award recognizes public figures whose primary careers are outside advertising, but whose work has made a meaningful contribution to the industry.

 

This year’s recipients are:

 

• Barry Manilow, Grammy, Tony and Emmy Award-winning singer, songwriter and producer

 

• Marlo Thomas, Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress, author and longtime activist

 

Manilow began his career in advertising, composing and producing some of the most recognizable commercial jingles of all time. Thomas has had a decades-long cultural impact through her work in entertainment and her advocacy for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, helping raise more than $1 billion over the past two decades.

 

A portion of the proceeds from the Hall of Fame induction gala will benefit The Manilow Music Project and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

17316: Protestors Target Target Again.

 

MediaPost reported Target is facing more protests, the latest episodes stemming from ICE agents “aggressively and violently” detaining two employees at stores in Minnesota.

 

Hey, seems like a natural transition from DEI dumping to ICE detaining.

 

Target Under Fire After ICE Detains U.S. Citizens

 

By Tanya Gazdik

 

Target is facing protests after Immigration Customs Enforcement agents “aggressively and violently” detained two employees at one of the retailer’s locations in its home state of Minnesota, according to a local official. 

 

The detention occurred at the store in Richfield, Minnesota on Jan. 8 after a “confrontation that began in the parking lot and spilled into the vestibule, according to local officials and witness accounts,” reported the New York Post. “Minnesota state Rep. Michael Howard said the agents entered the store without a warrant and physically detained the workers, while family members and witnesses alleged the incident amounted to racial profiling.”

 

One of the employees shouted, “I’m literally a U.S. citizen!” as agents escorted him toward a vehicle, The Wall Street Journal reported.

 

“Over 100 people gathered outside the Target on State Street holding signs with pictures of people who have been killed by Immigration Customs Enforcement,” according to The (Purdue) Exponent. 

 

The employees were assisting customers at the mobile ordering pickup parking spaces when they were stopped by agents led by a senior U.S. Border Patrol commander, officials said.

 

Howard told Newsweek that both individuals detained during the enforcement action at the store in Richfield were injured and later released, describing the arrests as “pure madness” and criticizing what he called an escalation of federal enforcement in his community that he says has created fear. 

 

“The Richfield incident is one in a growing number of violent encounters between civilians and federal agents captured on video since the killing of Renee Nicole Good by the ICE officer Jonathan E Ross on 7 January,” according to The Guardian. “Gregory Bovino, the senior US border patrol official who has become the public face of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement action in Minnesota and elsewhere, was present during the incident.”

 

According to Howard and video footage taken by witnesses, a team of ICE agents that had assembled at the Target forced two employees to the ground at the entrance to the store, then bundled them into a dark SUV.

 

“Target declined to comment,” according to The Minnesota Star Tribune. “The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that Border Patrol arrested a U.S. citizen for assault.”

17315: At Least 5 Reasons Why VML Sucks.

Advertising Age published a pathetic perspective from the New York VML CCO—which is almost an acronym oxymoron.

 

The content is titled, “5 reasons it’s gotten harder to do great work—and how to get back to it”—a title literally highlighting the inherent flaw in the author’s thinking.

 

That is, the VML CCO believes rising to the future requires returning to the past. Um, most adpeople realize the White advertising agency business model is broken. Outdated. Obsolete. Useless.

 

The VML CCO compounds the out-of-touch irrelevance by presenting five contrived clichés about the creative process.

 

To further underscore the bullshit, Ad Age chose to illustrate the viewpoint with a contrived and clichéd Sisyphean stock image (depicted above).

 

In short, there’s not a single great idea in content advocating for great work.

 

5 reasons it’s gotten harder to do great work—and how to get back to it

 

By Wayne Best

 

I have no personal connection to DDB. I have never worked there and have very little knowledge of the culture at the time its name was “retired.” I do, however, have a great deal of respect for Bill Bernbach. I still use quotes he uttered from before I was alive. He ushered in the power of creativity in advertising.

 

That led me to wonder if his name disappearing (well, the B in DDB) was the end of the era of creativity. I have decided the answer is no.

 

I will admit that I miss the days when smart, insightful advertising was prolific and opening an awards book was like unwrapping a gift. That’s not to say great work isn’t still happening, but lately it feels like the priorities have been put on data, systems and efficiency. And learning how to best use AI.

 

These are good things. They are changing advertising for the better. Yes, some jobs will change as a result. For instance, it’s a hard time to be a storyboard artist. But the best storyboard artists have visual taste and can tell a good story. Those skills are still needed; it’s just that the tools that get you there have changed.

 

So, embrace change and adapt.

 

Resistance is futile.

 

That last line is not meant to be eerie. It’s just true. The sooner you acknowledge it, the further you’ll go. After all, the path to great work is to kill good work. Progress requires you to kill your darlings so you’re free to think in less expected ways.

 

Which brings me to the question: Has “brand” become irrelevant?

 

I don’t think so.

 

Yes, media and production efficiencies can optimize our budgets. Customization and transcreation will continue to improve. But there is still an itch that all of that can’t scratch. And that is love.

 

Great brands have a place in our hearts, and that love still needs to be earned. It starts with a great product, but that’s just the beginning. Steve Jobs didn’t just produce great products; he also found a way to connect with people on a very human level. “1984” isn’t just an ad for a computer, it’s a celebration of individuality and a middle finger to corporations. “Here’s to the Crazy Ones” is about honoring the misfits who are daring enough to think they can change the world. The brand has a distinct point of view.

 

Data doesn’t do that. And AI aggregates the past rather than finding the unexpected. It doesn’t have the soft skills. It doesn’t have empathy.

 

That said, I don’t think our quest for data or AI are to blame for our current creative lull.

 

We’ve made it hard on ourselves to do breakthrough work.

 

We’ve added layers and layers of decision-makers. We’ve tried to be all things to all people. We’ve become afraid to make hard decisions and take chances, and that’s dangerous, because when you don’t make hard decisions, you sit in the middle. And the world ignores the middle, no matter the media budget.

 

I’m sure there are things I’m leaving out, but here are five things I know absolutely get in the way of building a great brand. None of them have to do with AI:

 

1. There are too many people involved in the decision-making. While it’s important to listen to opinions, a camel is a horse designed by a committee. Listening to people is fine, but somebody needs to be the decider, or you will build that camel.

 

2. If you try to please everybody, you will excite nobody. To be a great brand, you need to have a distinct POV. This means there are a lot of things you need to not say. Deciding what not to say is harder than deciding what to say, because different stakeholders care about different things.

 

3. Building a brand the right way takes time. We are always in a rush today, and the speed of AI and digital production has us moving faster than ever. Technology helps with the daily work, but to crack the bigger brand work, you need to be thoughtful and deliberate. Impatience is not a virtue.

 

4. Write shorter briefs. It’s hard. Writing long-winded briefs that everyone can read and find the “thing” they care about covered in the many pages is easy. Finding that sharp, pointed thing you can own in a sentence is hard. But until it gets sharp at the brief stage, you’ll be wasting expensive creative time. Make the hard decisions on what matters, and what doesn’t matter, at the brief stage. Or it will create endless swirl.

 

5. Never forget the problem you’re actually trying to solve. It’s easy for Walmart to promote deals on its website, but the bigger challenge is making consumers feel good when their neighbors see that Walmart box on their porch. It’s not an accident Walmart started using popular music and celebrities and buying high-profile media. When you keep the bigger goal in mind, it makes daily decisions easier.

 

I’m still sad when I see the greatest names in advertising dropped into a six-foot hole. But hey, those people were already dead. It’s what we learn from them that matters. If Bill Bernbach were alive today, he wouldn’t be moaning about the death of the print ad, he’d be figuring out how to build a real connection between a brand and the humans who need it given our current environment.

 

I am bullish on 2026.

 

As we learn to work with AI, it gets less scary and more helpful. The weirdness of the pandemic is wearing off. Mergers have become less of a shock and more of a way of working. And the best minds I know are anxious to be more creative again. They’re excited to do unexpected and wonderful things.

 

Let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work. 

17314: Dentsu International Assets In A Fix.

MediaPost reported Dentsu is throwing in the towel after nine months of trying to woo investors—including White holding companies—to buy its international assets.

 

According to MediaPost, Dentsu CEO Hiroshi Igarashi told board members the sales process has “fallen apart”—so, the Japanese holding company must attempt to fix its operations by itself.

 

Expect the fix to involve dismantling, deconstruction, demolition, and dismissals.

 

Dentsu procurement executives are gonna satisfy their RIF fix.

 

Report: Dentsu Fails To Attract Bidders For International Ops

 

By Steve McClellan

 

Dentsu’s efforts to sell off international assets over the past nine months have essentially failed, according to a report by the Financial Times of London late Tuesday. 

 

Dentsu shares fell 10% on the news Wednesday. 

 

The paper reported that investor group Appollo had considered a possible deal but has decided to bow out while Bain Capital is also now considered “unlikely” to strike any deal with Dentsu. 

 

The paper also reported that nothing has come of speculation that rival holdcos are interested in buying parts of the international business. 

 

The Times, citing undisclosed sources, said that Dentsu CEO Hiroshi Igarashi had informed board members that the sales process has “fallen apart,” leaving the company with no alternative but to try to get its operations back on track by itself. 

 

The paper also speculated that Igarashi may face a no confidence vote at the company’s upcoming annual shareholder meeting in March. 

 

Marketing advisory firm Madison & Wall commented that a “fresh pair of eyes” would be a benefit. But more broadly the firm suggested Dentsu might also benefit from a return to a “semi-independent status” for the international business versus the “One Dentsu” approach adopted a few years back when top management in Tokyo began exerting tighter control over how the international operations were run. 

 

“Allow Dentsu to organize itself as it sees fit outside of Japan with management rooted in either of the world’s three main magnets for global agency talent (New York, London or Paris) rather than Tokyo, which remains isolated from the rest of the agency world on many dimensions,” the advisory firm stated. “Attracting the right senior talent is critical, because without them, clients won’t stay or join and then more junior talent will continue to feel pressure to leave.” 

 

Dentsu issued a statement after the FT story ran. “The Company remains fully committed to rebuilding the international business,” the company said in the statement. The firm added that it is “making steady progress on rebuilding its business foundation and reevaluating underperforming businesses. At the same time, the Company is actively exploring strategic alternatives, including comprehensive and strategic partnerships, to support clients’ continued growth while advancing initiatives aimed at enhancing corporate value.” 

 

For the first nine months of the year, Dentsu reported organic revenue growth of 0.3% driven by nearly 10% growth in Japan. The company projects that full year organic revenue will be flat.

17313: WPP Media Ships Off With Norwegian Cruise Line.

 

Adweek reported Norwegian Cruise Line selected WPP Media as its new White media firm.

 

So, a questionable cruise line strikes the Titanic of White holding companies.

 

EXCLUSIVE: WPP Media Lands $102M U.S. Media Account for Norwegian Cruise Line 

 

The win arrives as the hold co remains under pressure to perform after months of decline

 

By Kendra Barnett

 

WPP Media has clinched Norwegian Cruise Line’s $102 million U.S. media account from Publicis-owned Digitas, ADWEEK has learned. It won the business in December. Digitas did not defend the business, according to a source familiar with the matter.

 

The $11 billion cruise giant wants to “redefine” its brand “to better align with our guests’ desires for exceptional vacation experiences across our fleet and destinations,” a company spokesperson told ADWEEK in a statement. The company’s partnership with WPP will serve “to enhance our presence in the media marketplace, ensuring we continue to deliver on our brand promise to our guests.” 

 

A spokesperson for WPP Media confirmed the account win to ADWEEK, noting in a statement that the holdco is “excited to support [Norwegian] in their continuous efforts to deliver exceptional vacation experiences across their 20-plus-ship fleet.”

17312: How Junk Food Advertising Bans Could Affect The Health Of Adland.

 

MediaPost Marketing Daily published an interview probing possibly implementing junk food advertising restrictions in the US, mimicking UK junk food advertising bans.

 

Such a move—which could happen given Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s MAHA platform—would lead to more layoffs in US Adland.

 

Plus, it could mean a significant reduction in crumbs to non-White advertising agencies whose work disproportionately targets non-White audiences with unhealthy products.

 

In short, advocating for healthiness dramatically and adversely impacts the health of everyone in US Adland.

 

Could U.K.-Style Junk Food Ad Ban Happen Here?

 

By Sarah Mahoney

 

The U.K.’s new junk-food advertising ban is sweeping. Its impact is vast: No TV ads for foods high in fat, salt or sugar before 9 p.m., and no paid online ads at all. The goal is curbing the obesity epidemic among British kids by reducing exposure to commercial messaging—an approach backed by growing research on how advertising affects children’s preferences and consumption.

 

A national ban here is unlikely, thanks to First Amendment protections for commercial speech. But marketers aren’t off the hook. Pressure is coming from a patchwork of state bills, city rules, school policies, digital-privacy efforts and front-of-pack labeling proposals—plus increasingly loud MAHA parents and politicians pushing cleaner food sentiment into the mainstream.

 

To understand what’s next, Marketing Daily spoke with DeAnna Nara, Ph.D., a licensed nutritionist and campaign manager at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nonprofit advocacy group.

 

Interview has been edited for length and clarity.

 

Marketing Daily: What is the U.K. trying to solve with this ad ban?

 

Nara: Childhood obesity, but also reducing unhealthy food exposure, particularly to children. This applies to soft drinks, candy, pizzas, ice creams. Evidence shows repeated exposure to this type of advertising influences children’s food preferences, consumption patterns and long-term health risks—and we see evidence of this even after one exposure.

 

Marketing Daily: Marketers here tend to say, “That could never happen in the U.S.” Are they right?

 

Nara: An exact U.K.-style ban is going to be tough. Advertising for general products is protected by the First Amendment. There are legal tests that get applied to commercial-speech restrictions, which usually make it hard to do a broad ban and hard to defend if it’s narrowly tailored.

 

We couldn’t just ban all junk-food ads on TV and online like the U.K. But it does show governments globally are looking at the relationship between marketing environments and public health. In the U.S., what we can do, and what we’re seeking to do, is reduce harmful exposure through targeted, legally defensible strategies. We’re focusing on deception, targeting practices and government-facilitated advertising in children’s environments like schools.

 

Marketing Daily: New York recently adopted the “Sweet Truth Act,” which requires sugar warnings. What else are you working on?

 

Nara: One of the biggest is the Predatory Marketing Prevention Act. Instead of banning speech, PMPA expands consumer-protection law to consider whether advertising is targeting specific groups. It gives attorneys general factors to consider—are ads targeting children, older adults or other vulnerable groups unfairly or deceptively?

 

It recognizes that targeted marketing of unhealthy products is a public-health and equity harm. We’re shifting the frame from what is being advertised to how and to whom. PMPA is a strong legal anchor because it operates within consumer-protection doctrine, meaning it can hold up in U.S. courts more easily than a broad ban on commercial content.

 

Marketing Daily: Others?

 

Nara: Limiting unhealthy food and beverage advertising in government-controlled spaces. Governments have more authority over property—transit screens, buses, kiosks—and they’re not required to display harmful commercial content. We’re working in New York to urge the MTA to revise policies that allow unhealthy food and beverage advertising and to avoid government-facilitated surveillance and targeting in digital out-of-home.

 

This mirrors what Transport for London did in 2019, restricting junk-food ads across the transit system. We saw reduced exposure and changes in purchasing patterns.

 

In Massachusetts, we’re working on the Healthy Kids Healthy Futures Act. It prohibits sugary-drink marketing in schools and requires added-sugar warnings on chain-restaurant menus.

 

Digital protection is another area. New York’s Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation for Kids Act restricts personalized feeds and nighttime notifications for users under 18. Other states, including Virginia, are moving toward laws limiting kids’ use of addictive social media and increasing age verification. We’re trying to make it harder for companies to collect data and target children with personalized ads.

 

Marketing Daily: Many companies hit by the U.K. ban are multinationals. Could this change what they sell or how they market in the U.S.?

 

Nara: We’re hoping. We’re seeing a tide change in how ultra-processed foods are viewed. There’s a world where consumer demand pushes companies to offer healthier products. We’ve done national polling, and people are interested in healthier products.

 

Industry will also be pushed by front-of-package warnings. The FDA is looking at warnings that reflect nutrition info on the back, which is confusing. That’s going to push more reformulation. Regardless of political views, we know these products create harm. Pushing companies to reduce sodium, sugar and saturated fat is something they can do. Reformulation is happening globally, and that trend is expanding.

 

Marketing Daily: We’re in a strange political moment, with ultra-processed foods under fire from both left and right. The risk to marketers are clear. What are the opportunities?

 

Nara: Some are taking advantage of changes. When politicians started talking about seed oils and ultraprocessed fats, some companies, like Shake Shack, started frying in beef tallow. Marketers can use these changes to make more money.

 

It’s not necessarily about eliminating marketing, but changing what gets rewarded in the marketplace and by consumers. Brands that lead on health and responsible marketing are building long-term trust with parents and families. There’s an opportunity to make products healthier, help consumers and make the healthy choice easy.