16358: Will Papa Johns Account Review Be An All-Star Pizza Party?

 

AgencySpy posted on Papa Johns launching a review of its White marketing agencies, reportedly with a targeted focus on DEI. Papa Johns CMO Mark Shambura said, “We are looking for partners who will develop breakthrough strategy and creative work, are collaborative with each other, bring a multicultural perspective, and are representative of the communities we speak to.” That definitely means there are no plans to ever reintroduce John Schnatter. But given the DEI angle, maybe Majority—the shop co-founded by Papa Johns spokesperson, board member, and franchisee Shaquille O’Neal—has a shot.

 

Papa Johns Puts National Marketing Agencies in Review

 

By Kyle O’Brien

 

Papa John’s International, Inc. will issue a review of its national marketing agencies. The review is aimed at accelerating the brand’s analytics-led approach to marketing and consolidate and optimize its partners moving forward, according to a release.

 

The statement stated that Papa Johns is prioritizing potential partners in media and creative that can continue to help establish the superiority of its pizzas and share common brand values, including a targeted focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.

 

Papa Johns had been working with Havas agency Camp + King starting in 2019, and with Havas Media since 2018.

 

Chief marketing officer Mark Shambura, who has been with the brand since May, will lead the agency review process as part of his oversight of advertising, media and field activation, menu strategy, product innovation and digital customer experience for Papa John’s.

 

“We express gratitude to our current agency teams for their partnership and the impactful work we have produced together in the past five years,” said Shambura in a statement. “As we look beyond a post-Covid world, both Papa Johns and the landscape we operate in have shifted significantly.”

 

Shambura went on to say that Papa Johns has evolved as a company, and its marketing efforts need to innovate to meet the needs of the company as well as changing consumer habits.

 

“We are taking the opportunity to reassess our partnerships and embrace new perspectives and expertise that will set us up for the next three-to-five-years. We are looking for partners who will develop breakthrough strategy and creative work, are collaborative with each other, bring a multicultural perspective, and are representative of the communities we speak to,” added Shambura.

 

Papa John’s also hired Jaclyn Ruelle, formerly svp, managing director of cultural impact and brand communications at The Martin Agency, as its vp head of brand in September of last year. Prior to Martin, Ruelle was at MullenLowe U.S. for nearly nine years.

 

The agency search will begin this month and will include select, invited agencies to participate. Pile and Company will handle the review.

 

Papa Johns has continued its transformation following the ouster of founder and former chairman John Schnatter in 2018 due to his use of a racial slur.

16058: Artistz N The Hood.

 

This promotion from General Motors and Majority—the advertising agency co-founded by NBA Icon Shaquille O’Neal—was described as follows:

 

Art collectors will soon have a chance to own unique works of art created by four multifaceted artists from across the United States, all of them using General Motors vehicle hoods as their canvas.

 

The proceeds are going to two nonprofits, EVNoire, which provides EV education to diverse communities, and Accessible Festivals, creator of fully accessible opportunities at music festivals for people of all abilities.

 

Bidding ends on Nov. 30 at 11 p.m. at Neighbor Hoods under the auspices of 32auctons, a silent auction platform. Both nonprofits align with GM’s aspiration of being the most inclusive company in the world by focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion.

 

The auction comes after the launch of GM’s Neighbor Hoods campaign, which coincided with Roc Nation’s Made in America Festival, an annual two-day, culturally diverse concert festival. As a sponsor of the festival, GM brought a unique charitable component to that event, along with an attention-grabbing vehicle display.

 

GM’s Zone Zero showcased the GMC Hummer EV Pickup, Ultium Platform and a new branded content series, Neighbor Hoods.

 

So, it appears that “GM’s aspiration of being the most inclusive company in the world by focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion” involves sweeping crumbs to minority-owned shops. Hell, GM won’t even award a full car to people of color.